Steel food can celebrates 200th anniversary

Wednesday, 25 August 2010 02:30:27 (GMT+2)

The steel food can continues to be the most recycled food package, they said, with a higher annual recycling rate than aluminum, plastic, pouch, glass and paperboard package

Developed as a method of preserving and distributing food for the military, the food can has grown into a contemporary container present in everyday lives.  With more than 28 billion food cans produced each year in the United States, production has remained relatively stable over time.  New innovations, such as easy-open cans with pull-tabs, resealable cans and microwavable cans, continue to have potential to expand the market for steel food cans.

Today, the steel food can has the highest recycling rate of any food package, with an annual recycling rate of more than 65 percent.  Each steel can contains a minimum of 25 percent recycled content and is endlessly recyclable into new cans, cars, appliances, bridges, or any new steel product without a loss of strength or quality.  

The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) grows and maintains the use of steel through strategies that promote cost-effective solutions in the automotive, construction and container markets, as well as for new-growth opportunities in non-traditional steel markets.

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