The „metal recycles forever“ logo was launched by the European umbrella organisation Metal Packaging Europe. The strengths of metal packaging for recycling are being bundled in a Europe-wide initiative for the entire industry and represented by the logo "metal recycles forever". SCHÄFER WERKE supports the initiative.
Metals are natural elements that retain their physical properties infinitely. If metal enters the material-to-material cycle, where it is recycled again and again, it will always be available to future generations. This means that metal is a permanent material. Stainless steel KEGs and IBCs have a small ecological footprint due to decades of multiple use. On top of this comes transport safety, consistently high quality standards, branding opportunities and sustainability due to full recycling at the end of their life cycle. As a packaging material, metal achieves a recycling rate of 82.5% in Europe as a whole, and over 90% in Germany, thus supporting a sustainable circular economy.
It is, however, clear that for many companies the challenge of improving the recyclability of packaging in general will take a lot of time and money, whereas metal packaging already meets European and national requirements: metal recycles forever.
The efficient use of resources must be prioritised. Stainless steel as a permanently recyclable material saves valuable raw materials, while reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
