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    “The Green Steel Project aligns very well with our own long-term plan to reduce our carbon footprint.”

    Our stakeholders Risk framework

    Interview with Matt Kuehn

    Interview with Matt Kuehn, DS Containers

    Metal packaging of the future

    DS Containers (DSC) is currently the largest US steel aerosol manufacturer, whose majority owner is the Daiwa Can Company of Japan. In 2005, DSC used a combination of Daiwa technology and Tata Steel’s Protact® material to set up a revolutionary can production facility just outside of Chicago. Over the course of their 20-year history, they have grown from a start-up to the #1 market position in North America for steel aerosol cans. Tata Steel Nederland supplies the majority of DSC’s material. The company was set up by Bill Smith Sr, whose son Bill Smith Jr retired as CEO at the end of 2020. Matt Kuehn, previously SVP Sales, Marketing and Technical Services, succeeded Bill as CEO.

    How would you characterise the relationship between TSN and your organisation?

    “TSN is a long-term partner. They’ve been with us since the very beginning, and had a big role in DSC’s ability to develop and introduce our laminated Protact two-piece aerosol can, which was very innovative at the time in the packaging space. TSN also helped us educate the market about the unique properties of our packaging, assisting our ability to grow our business in the US. TSN’s longstanding commitment to metal packaging sets TSN apart from other steel suppliers. Rather than exclusively relying on technologies of the present, they have made repeated significant investments in additional Protact capacity over the years, supporting the future of the metal packaging space. This has enabled DSC to move to wider specifications, increasing efficiencies and capacity in our current facilities.”

    What could TSN do to improve the relationship further?

    “We're actually quite happy with the relationships and channels of dialogue currently in place. We’re working in a dynamic and rapidly evolving industry, and we have regular conversations about geopolitical and environmental challenges that affect our business. TSN is well equipped with expertise in each of those areas, so it’s great to have them as a sparring partner. We also work closely together on technical innovations and new ideas. We’re looking forward to continuing our longstanding partnership in this way.”

    How important is the focus on sustainability for DSC as a customer?

    “TSN's Green Steel Project aligns very well with our own key objectives of reducing our carbon footprint. We look at the investments we can do on our side, but there’s only so much we’re capable of doing when a significant portion of the overall carbon footprint that we deal with relates to the operation of the supplier of our primary input, which is steel. In its current state, TSN is already amongst the best in the world in terms of their carbon impact. The fact that they’re not resting on their laurels and investing in green steel is admirable and also aligns well with what markets, including our own customers and consumers, are expecting of the industry going forward. We’re eager to join them on that journey, recognising that it’s a long-term commitment. It’s still early days, but TSN’s ability to realise its Green Steel Project will be a significant component of our own long-term plan to reduce our carbon footprint.”

    Have you already experienced a change as a result of this?

    “We’re pleased to see that there’s progress in the near term, but we realise that TSN is setting the stage for the bigger impact yet to come. Probably the most groundbreaking result so far relating to our own product is TSN’s new TCCT line, which was opened officially in 2026. The innovative tin-free Trivalent Chromium-Coating Technology is used to produce Protact and offers a Chromium VI-free substrate, making it compliant with forthcoming environmental legislation. The new line not only benefits our own product, but also offers opportunities for sustainable growth. It’s important to realise that thanks to the recyclability of steel, the steel packaging industry can play a significant role in making packaging greener. Our strong partnership with TSN and our mutual focus on innovation will undoubtedly lead to even greener solutions in the future.”