Sustainability

European LCA Study

Sustainability is often measured in small, incremental steps, but when you look at the big picture, those steps lead to important change. This year, Metal Packaging Europe (MPE) released its most comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study to date. Based on 2023 data from across the industry, the results provide clear evidence of the industry’s progress in lowering its carbon footprint and optimizing resource use.

At Envases Europe, we are proud to have contributed to this study. It doesn’t just give us numbers; it provides a roadmap for how we, and our customers, can reduce our environmental footprint together.

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Engineering a Smaller Footprint

The study highlights significant efficiency gains made over just a five-year period (comparing 2023 data to 2018). These aren’t just technical milestones. They are direct reductions in the resources required to bring your products to market:

Energy Savings: Electricity consumption for the production of metal general line cans dropped by 18%. Food cans saw a 5% reduction.

Lightweighting: Innovation in design has allowed us to trim the weight of aluminium food cans by 19% and steel general line cans by 13%. All while maintaining the strength and protection metal is known for.

The Power of 1%

Perhaps the most striking finding from the MPE study is the “Recycling Sensitivity Analysis.” It proved that for every 1% increase in the recycling rate, the carbon footprint of that packaging is reduced by 1.4%.

Metal is a permanent material. This means that it can be recycled infinitely without losing its inherent properties. This new data confirms that every can collected and recycled isn’t just waste avoided. It is a direct and measurable strike against greenhouse gas emissions.

How Envases Europe Supports Your ESG Goals

We know that our customers are increasingly focused on their own emissions and ESG reporting. This new LCA data allows us to assist you with even more accurate calculations of your packaging’s impact. Therefore, whether you are looking to understand your current baseline or want to see the carbon-saving effects of switching to a lighter-weight can, we have the data to support your journey.

German Envases employees

Sustainability

Want to know more?

Don’t hesitate to contact our Sustainability team. We take our environmental responsibility seriously in all our operations. That’s why we identify, control, and measure our activities, striving to reduce our environmental impact.

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