Sustainability tops criteria for packaging

The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), recently shared the results of its survey on packaging materials. Conducted by MindClick in January and February, the study shows that 65% of decision makers at Fortune 500 consumer product companies consider packaging sustainability as a high priority.

Consumer products firms mentioned that there is not enough meaningful information to help them evaluate and compare the sustainability performance of competitive packaging materials. Packaging executives define sustainability as the way individual materials contribute to the environmental and the social story of products and brands. Key contributors to determining sustainability include recycling and the energy required to transport, store, use and dispose of the packaging. Secondary considerations include the greater societal, environmental and community impacts related to the materials themselves.

The advantages of steel packaging

For its part, SMDI will launch a national education campaign to highlight the depth of steel's leadership in meeting the sustainability needsof the packaging industry. Steel is the preferred packaging material for more than 1,500 variations of food, pet food, paint, household products, health and beauty products, steel is delivering compelling sustainability solutions to consumer brands. This material saves energy, ensures safe nutritious food, minimises food waste and increases economic efficiencies.

Across all markets, steel is the world’s most recycled material; more than all other materials combined.

Steel cans are the most recycled food package with a 71% recycling rate.

Steel food cans are more than 30% lighter than 25 years ago.

"Through the outreach effort, SMDI's Steel Packaging Council will highlight steel's role in meeting the sustainability needs of the packaging industry, while communicating the broader benefits of steel packaging," Lawrence Kavanagh, president, SMDI said. "With its recycling, reusability and package integrity, steel is clearly the preferred material for the packaging industry and this campaign will further increase the industry's awareness of these great benefits."

For this campaign, SMDI has chosen to partner with Barton Seaver, a renowned chef, National Geographic Fellow, TED Speaker, and the new director of the Healthy and Sustainable Food programme at Harvard SchoNike SB Hyperfeel Koston 3