Tata Steel UK – Packaging is set to showcase its vision for eco-friendly steel production at two major industry events: LIVE 2025: Retail Week & The Grocer on 11 February, the UK’s leading event for retailers and FMCG brands, and Packaging Innovations at the NEC Birmingham on 13 February. The company will introduce its new Electrifying Packaging Steel campaign, highlighting its commitment to decarbonizing steel production for the packaging sector through Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) technology.
At LIVE 2025, attendees can experience a virtual reality tour demonstrating Tata Steel UK’s EAF technology, which aims to produce sustainable packaging steel by 2030. Meanwhile, at Packaging Innovations, Nick Silk, Head of Product Development and Customer Technical Support, and Sarah Passmore, Head of Commercial Strategy, Packaging, will present the Electrifying Packaging Steel initiative at 1:30 pm on the Materials and Supply Chain stage. The EAF process will deliver high-quality steel with the same formability, food safety standards (AA+), and performance as traditional methods, making it ideal for packaging everyday items like food cans, aerosols, and paint tins.
Adrian Davies, Marketing Manager – Packaging at Tata Steel UK, said: “Adopting EAF technology is a critical step toward a greener future. It significantly cuts carbon emissions while maintaining the trusted quality and food safety standards that brands and consumers rely on. This innovation is key to helping retailers and FMCG brands achieve their sustainability goals and meet the rising demand for eco-friendly packaging solutions.”
Nicola Jones, Steel Packaging Recycling Manager at Tata Steel UK, added: “EAF technology enables us to produce packaging steel with 50% lower CO₂ emissions and at least 50% recycled content. At our Trostre site, where we manufacture steel for food, beverage, and aerosol packaging, we are working toward a fully circular economy.”
The shift to EAF technology at Tata Steel’s Port Talbot site represents a major transformation for the UK’s packaging industry. Unlike traditional blast furnaces, EAFs use electricity to melt scrap steel, allowing for greater use of recycled materials and lower emissions. This transition supports local recycling efforts and addresses the UK’s current export of 8 million tonnes of steel scrap annually, advancing a circular economy in steel production.
Tata Steel UK invites attendees to visit its Tech Pod in the Networking Area at LIVE 2025 to explore the Electrifying Packaging Steel campaign and learn how sustainable steelmaking is shaping the future of packaging. Alternatively, visitors can meet the team at Packaging Innovations on 13 February for their presentation on EAF packaging steel.
Nicola Jones and Adrian Davies will be available at LIVE 2025 to discuss how this innovation supports Tata Steel UK’s goal of achieving net-zero steel production by 2045, with an interim target of reducing CO₂ emissions by 30% by 2030. As part of this transition, the company ended ironmaking operations at its Port Talbot site in October 2024 to focus on more sustainable production methods. A key project in this strategy is the construction of a 3.2 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) Electric Arc Furnace, expected to be operational by late 2027 or early 2028. This move aligns with Tata Steel’s broader sustainability goals and efforts to modernize its steelmaking processes.
By embracing EAF technology, Tata Steel UK is paving the way for a greener, more sustainable future in steel production, ensuring high-quality, eco-friendly packaging solutions for years to come.
