Inside Brussels – Alexis Van Maercke on steel for packaging in EU policy discussions

The EU has reached an important milestone in waste policy.  

After more than 2 years of negotiations the Circular Economy Package (CEP) was formally adopted by the European Parliament (EP) in Strasbourg last April and by the Ministers at Council level last May.

Special report - APEAL conference in Brussels

Today, with 79,5% recycled in 2016, steel for packaging is both a pioneer of circular economy and a model for closed loop recycling.

At the ‘Steel for Packaging, a Pioneer of Circular Economy’ conference last April in Brussels, policymakers and stakeholders examined ways of working together to fully close the loop on steel packaging recycling in EU countries and achieve the higher recycling targets set out in the CEP. 

The importance of recycling for the circular economy, 1st panel

“Increasing recycling requires a holistic approach” declared APEAL President Stéphane Tondo as he kicked off the conference, sharing APEAL’s ambition that the new report “be a reference point for the European institutions and national, regional and municipal authorities."

The importance of separate collection and sorting for quality recycling, 2nd panel

Joachim Quoden MD of the Extended Producer Responsibility Alliance (Expra) noted that the CEP was indeed an opportunity to harmonise Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rules across the EU and to promote best practices in separate collection.

The importance of transparent reporting and real recycling when setting realistic targets and measuring EU recycling rates, 3rd panel

Alain d’Haese, Secretary General FEA European Aerosol Federation, kicked off by calling for a strong dialogue between industry and the EU institutions as the implementation phase unfolds at MS level. He qualified the APEAL event an example of the strong dialogue that is needed.

The importance of raising public awareness in increasing recycling rates, final panel

Hungarian MEP Tibor Szanyi set the scene by drawing attention to the disparity of collection rules across Europe that risk frustrating conscientious EU recyclers.

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Read the Parliament magazine’s report here

See the event photos here

Watch the event video here

European Association Awards 2018 recognise APEAL’s “circular economy” campaign

Highlighting the role steel for packaging plays in helping achieve the goals and objectives set out in the EU’s Circular Economy Package, APEAL’s campaign has achieved impressive global reach and industry recognition.

Adopting a multimedia, integrated approach that made use of both digital and tradition media platforms, “a very informative and well-done piece, effectively used” said the judges.