APEAL, the Association of European Producers of Steel for Packaging, has welcomed the launch of Metal Packaging Europe as an overarching European association that brings together manufacturers, suppliers, and national associations, to promote the benefits of rigid metal packaging.

It was announced that Beverage Can Makers Europe (BCME) and European Metal Packaging (Empac) will merge into one association, named after the former Metal Packaging Europe, which also forms part of the new association.

APEAL was one of the four founding members of the original Metal Packaging Europe in 2011 and will be an active member of the new group.

Metal Packaging Europe will form a more efficient and powerful organisation representing all actors in the supply chain and unifying the industry’s voice.

“This is a welcome move. Metal Packaging Europe will ensure the views and interests of the rigid metal packaging industry are more effectively represented to EU policymakers and other stakeholders across the European Union”, said Stéphane Tondo, President of APEAL.

Through coordinated activities in public affairs, and communications, as well as environmental and technical initiatives, Metal Packaging Europe will continue to promote metal packaging to make it the first choice for consumer and industrial packaging.

“With Europe on a journey from a linear to a circular economy, the new association will play a key role in helping grow awareness of steel for packaging as a truly sustainable material, both in terms of the material’s excellent recycling performance and its ability to preserve food”, said Alexis Van Maercke, Secretary general of APEAL.

The enlarged focus of Metal Packaging Europe will allow all actors in the metal packaging chain to take full ownership of the opportunities and challenges presented by the Circular Economy Package and beyond. As permanent materials that recycle forever, metals such as steel can make a decisive contribution to help close the material loop and support the creation of a circular economy.

Learn more about steel as the model material for a circular economy here – http://metalpackagingeurope.org/animation