UK Local Government Association finds only one third of collected plastic food packaging is recyclable, calls for better packaging design, ban on low-grade plastics, greater contribution of producers to cost of collection and disposal
5th retailer report card on chemical safety
‘Mind the Store’ campaign publishes updated report card scoring 50 major North American retailers on their actions to remove toxic chemicals from their products; finds improvement over last year in 70% of companies reviewed, focus has remained on eliminating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), ortho-phthalates, and bisphenols from products
FitNESS 2.0 project expands open access food packaging training materials
EU-funded training platform on responsible food packaging contains three months’ worth of free course material for both current and future professionals; developed by consortium of European universities specializing in food packaging; developments underway to expand platform’s training topics, provide validated certificates of course completion
Microplastics, seafood and human health
Greenpeace UK releases report on microplastics in seafood; compiles most recent academic research; recommends banning mircobeads and generally applying precautionary principle
EU Parliament’s draft resolution on plastics
EU Parliament’s Environment Committee publishes draft resolution on EU strategy for plastics in circular economy; deadline for tabling amendments May 3, 2018
FPF Workshop 2019: FCM oversight in Denmark
Mette Holm gives overview of approaches to FCM inspection and control by Danish Ministry of Environment and Food; latest monitoring study on PFAS in paper and board FCMs still finds intentional addition of PFAS; Denmark bans PFAS in paper and board FCM from 2020
Best practice guide for FCM printing
Printing inks manufacturer publishes 4th edition of low migration guide, practical advice for ensuring compliance of printing inks in food contact materials
FPF Workshop 2020: Hazardous chemicals in FCMs
Stefan Merkel presents recent work of German Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR); Lisa Zimmermann discusses bioassay-based toxicity assessment of conventional plastics, bioplastics, and plant-based materials; Andrew Turner emphasizes presence of toxic brominated flame retardants in recycled plastics, uses of hazardous heavy metals in colored decorations applied to glass articles
Tanzania proposes limits for polyethylene FCM additives
Includes hundreds of additive compounds used in food contact materials (FCMs) with corresponding restriction limits and detailed testing methods; restrictions planned to be implemented in summer 2021
ANSES opinion: Mineral oils in paper and board FCMs
French food safety agency recommends reducing consumer exposure to mineral oils; suggests using MOAH-free printing inks, glues, additives, processing aids in paper and board food packaging but also printed media entering the recycling stream; proposes use of functional barriers