Steel packaging: a recycling success story

The steel can remains the world’s most recycled packaging material, according to data gathered by the International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI). In 2006, 6.6 million tonnes of steel cans were recycled, across the 35 countries represented in the data collection. This prevented approximately 11.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from being released into the environment.

IISI collects data on the world steel can recycling rate every year. This year, for the first time, recycling figures for Brazil, Turkey and China were reported. The overall packaging recycling rate was 67% in 2006, an increase from 64.9% in 2005.

China recycled an estimated 1.2 million tonnes of steel cans in 2006. In the US, 1.3 million tonnes of post-consumer steel cans were recovered for recycling. Japan recovered 645,730 tonnes of post-consumer food and beverage cans, and recycled a total of 720,600 tonnes of packaging steel. The 27 member countries of the European Union recycled 2.5 million tonnes in the same year.

Julie Renner, chairwoman of IISI’s Committee on Packaging said, “The data from our members shows a continued high recycling rate for steel cans in many countries. In real terms, the tonnages of steel from packaging being recycled in individual countries are also steadily increasing. This is not only good news because of the high demand for scrap steel, it is also good news for the environment”.

2006 steel can recycling data

Notes to editors:

• To calculate the global recycling rate, IISI collects data from its members. Each country uses different criteria when preparing its statistics and the reported figures may refer to differing stages of packaging production and recycling.
• IISI members produce approximately 65% of the world’s packaging steels.
• Steel is 100% recyclable and can be recycled any number of times without loss of quality. All available steel is recycled. Steel-to-steel recycling means that a steel can could become part of a bridge or a ship in its next life. Steelmaking from recycled steel requires less energy than steelmaking from iron ore. The reason not all steel is made from 100% recycled steel is that there is not enough steel available for recycling. This is also due to global economic expansion and the long life of steel.
• The International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI) is one of the largest and most dynamic industry associations in the world. IISI represents approximately 180 steel producers (including 19 of the world's 20 largest steel companies), national and regional steel industry associations, and steel research institutes. IISI members produce around 75% of the world's steel (excluding China) and the growing membership in China now accounts for over 20% of Chinese production.