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Apeal and Empac have developed a carbon footprint model to help steel packaging manufacturers respond to pressure from retailers to provide information about their impact on the environment.

Delegates at the 5th International Steel Packaging Congress in Düsseldorf heard today (24 April) that retailer demands on packaging manufacturers were a response to a perceived eco-friendly sentiment among consumers, but the lack of harmonisation to schemes made it difficult for manufacturers to respond.

Martin Reynolds, vice-president of public affairs at Crown Europe, said: "There's a lot of misunderstanding and a lack of understanding about the carbon information that retailers ask for.

"The Apeal/Empac project will provide consistent data," he said.

Meanwhile, Julian Carroll, managing director of the European Organisation for Packaging and the Environment, criticised voluntary schemes for "undermining packaging legislation that works".

"The 'soft law' approach of initiatives within the supply chain and from government-backed agencies are creating uncertainty for packaging producers. Legislation takes a backseat to market reactions to consumer perceptions of packaging," he said.