Never-ending recyclability of metal
The Metal Packaging Europe (MPE) has developed a new recycling mark in a bid to highlight the never-ending recyclability of metal. Research from MPE found that consumers do not fully understand the value of recycling or what happens with the metal once it is collected.
Research carried out across the UK, France and Spain showed that both ‘keen recyclers’ and ‘reluctant recyclers’ agreed the message ‘METAL recycles forever’ together with the symbol of a forever loop provides clearer information that should positively impact on recycling habits.
“European consumers purchase more than 85 billion products per year in rigid metal packaging so finding a solution to encourage these items to be recycled is of great importance. I am delighted that our industry has jointly identified a message that really makes a difference to consumer attitudes and behaviours; reassuring ‘keen recyclers’ and inspiring ‘reluctant recyclers’. Steel and aluminium have endless possibilities and as long as we collect and recycle, these metals remain permanently available for future generations” says Anders Linde, general secretary of MPE.
This project is a collaboration between the aluminium and steel industries and across all rigid metal packaging, including beverage and food cans, paint cans, aerosols, speciality metal tins and metal closures. European Metal Packaging (EMPAC) and Beverage Can Makers Europe (BCME) members will share the research with their customers over the coming months.
