APEAL (the Association of European Producers of Steel for Packaging) has welcomed the European Parliament (EP) plenary vote on the Circular Economy Package (CEP). The vote gives a strong mandate to the EP in the trilogue discussion with the Council and Commission.

Commending the European Commission’s foresight in proposing the package, APEAL also complimented the efficiency of the rapporteur Simona Bonafé and the shadow rapporteurs throughout the EP procedure.

“Swift implementation of the CEP will deliver numerous benefits, specifically: a harmonised EU approach, greater legal certainty and a more viable internal market,” said Alexis Van Maercke, secretary general of APEAL.

As the model material for a circular economy, with 76% recycled in 2014¹, steel is ideally positioned to reach ambitious but achievable recycling rates by 2025. APEAL welcomes that the EP has confirmed the Commission proposal to opt for a specific steel recycling target as opposed to the current legislation. This approach will foster greater understanding of the recycling performance of all permanent materials.

Alexis Van Maercke added: “APEAL is also pleased to note the EP’s reference to ‘multiple recycling’ is confirmed and backed by a large majority of the Members of the EP. By introducing the concept of multiple recycling, where products and packaging materials are kept in the material loop and can become resources for other products and packaging, the EP contributes to increasing understanding of the corresponding concept of permanent materials such as steel, that can be recycled multiple times, indeed forever.

“We urge all EU member states to take the principle of multiple recycling on board in the final legislation and incorporate also the ‘permanent materials’ concept in the Council text.”

Amongst the other proposals in the package, APEAL supports the approach to place the measurement point of recycling at the input to the final recycling process. Indeed, this point corresponds to the point of ‘real recycling’.

Strongly encouraging safeguarding the ‘internal market’ legal base of the PPWD ¹, Alexis Van Maercke concluded: “Member States’ national waste legislation proposals should preserve the Internal market and the free circulation of packaging and packaged goods.

“These proposals should not create disruption due to differences in interpretation or implementation. We call upon EU policy makers to strengthen the legal framework in this direction.”

About APEAL

APEAL - the Association of European Producers of Steel for Packaging is a federation of four multi-national producers of steel for packaging (ArcelorMittal, Tata Steel, thyssenkrupp Rasselstein, U.S. Steel Košice). In total these four companies employ over 200,000 workers in Europe. Founded in 1986, APEAL represents today about 95% of the total European production of steel for packaging.

About Steel for Packaging

Steel is a unique packaging material, combining exceptional performance capabilities with unrivalled environmental credentials. Strong, formable and long-lasting, steel offers numerous benefits for the safe packaging of a wide variety of products.

¹ Source APEAL, verified by independent energy and waste specialist consultancy, Eunomia

² Packaging and Packaging Waste framework directive