The Grocer
12 July 2008

Ken Wood
Risk and Excellence Manager, Impress Group

SIR; Climate change is with us and whether we like it or not, we must be prepared to adapt to the known impacts that will increasingly materialise over the next 20 years. Such impacts could be delayed or perhaps even stalled if CO2 emissions were brought under control and reduced.

But, even if global emission policy objectives for 2050 were achieved tomorrow, we could expect a further 1OC average temperature rise to the 1OC rise we already have.

This is an unlikely scenario as we witness the world's slow response to global warming. The evidence is clear - wetter winters, hotter summers and the more severe effects that have occurred outside Europe.  Add to this the impact of food shortages, leading to food price increases, pushing millions into poverty and we see the need for societies and businesses alike to rise to the challenge and adapt.

The world is changing and research by the metal packaging sector that confirms the ecological and adaptive advantages of the can is continually being brought to our attention. Steel recycled from steel requires only 20% of the energy used in producing steel from iron ore. Recycled aluminium is even better as it uses only 5% of the energy needed to produce it from bauxite. Natural elements do not down-cycle but recycle to their natural state, which means metal packaging can be recycled infinitely, can back into can without loss in quality.  Retailers and consumers alike must awaken to the environmental benefits of metal, which packages and protects food, without having to resort to costly and environmentally damaging refrigeration.

Impress
t: +33 2 4348 5100