Integral cycle steelmaking creates flat, laminate sheets. These semi-finished products are used to produce sheet metal for many processes, including steel packaging.
Thin sheet metal with a tin or chromium coating or plain sheet metal is the starting material in the production of various types of packaging.
Steel is a particularly suitable material for the production of food and non-food containers, and the only one to have a number of characteristics that both the user company and the final consumer can use to their advantage.

EFFICIENT
Steel packaging offers outstanding performance at all stages of the supply chain: the filling process is the fastest; it is easy to transport and stack and facilitates distribution; refrigeration is not needed, which means saving up to 70% of energy consumption throughout the supply chain. Lastly, metal packaging does not require external (secondary) packaging for transport.
UNBREAKABLE, RESISTANT AND STRONG
Resistant to external stresses or tampering and to extreme pressures, steel packaging guarantees maximum protection of the contents during stacking, storage, handling and transport, with a significant and positive impact on costs.
SAFE, AIRTIGHT AND IMPENETRABLE
Steel packaging fully protects from light, air, humidity and bacterial microorganisms: for this reason, it is particularly suitable for containing and preserving food. Steel packaging is a barrier that offers 100% protection.
In addition, it guarantees freshness for longer periods of time, even at high temperatures; it offers the best solution for potentially dangerous goods and offers consumers a safe solution for dispensing aerosol products.
SUSTAINABLE AND ECO-FRIENDLY
100% recyclable infinite times, steel packaging can be transformed into new high quality steel that does not lose its original characteristics.
RICREA supports member companies in the development and research of even more sustainable and eco-friendly packaging that has an ever lower impact on the environment, both in the production phase and in the use and post-use phases.
The excellent results obtained (over 80% of steel packaging is sent to recycling facilities) make steel the most recycled material, as well as the most widespread in the world, after cement.
MAGNETIC
Due to this peculiar characteristic, steel packaging is easier to process in waste collection, differentiation and recycling compared to all other waste. A magnetic process is enough to separate it from other materials.
SINGLE MATERIAL
Because they are only made of one material, steel packaging and fastenings are easier and less expensive to sort and recycle. Fully recyclable, they can be reborn as new objects an infinite number of times.
EASILY SCREEN PRINTABLE
Steel packaging offers a large screen-printable surface, a very useful feature that makes it particularly suitable for customisation. Product identification is easy and fully effective, delivering high quality packaging communication.