Earthjustice files petition asking US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to revoke approval of 600 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) allowed on the market under exemptions of the Toxic Substances Control Act; represents about half the number of PFAS on the market; EPA extends reach of guidelines for federal purchasing of PFAS-free products; Food and Drug Administration funding bill stripped of reform amendments including federal ban on PFAS in food packaging
First proposals put forward for global treaty to end plastic pollution
Countries are submitting proposals to the UN Environment Program to guide Plastics Treaty development; US proposes treaty focus on downstream effects – reuse and recycling; proposal from 40-nation ‘high ambition coalition’ proposes setting up limits on polymer production, eliminating certain polymers and products; over 60 proposals received so far; stakeholder registration is open for the next negotiating meeting for the Plastics Treaty in Paris, France in May 2023
California overhauling packaging recyclability labeling
First in US regulation to only allow recyclability labels on packaging if > 60% of the population has access to suitable recycling facilities; bill supported by local recyclers to reduce recycling contamination; Governor expected to sign into law by October 10, 2021
Baby foods as dominant pathway for infant exposure to antioxidants
Targeted analysis demonstrates widespread contamination of Chinese baby foods with traditional and novel antioxidants; plastic food packaging identified as one source; prevalent and high migration of 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol from different types of plastics
Congress on environmental economics
6th World Congress of Environmental and Resource Economists takes place on June 25-29, 2018, in Gothenburg, Sweden
Waste wave
Large quantity of plastic marine debris washed ashore after storm in Dominican Republic
2023 FPF Workshop: Goals and policy processes for safe and sustainable FCMs
On the morning of the Food Packaging Forum’s 11th annual workshop, speakers share processes to measure sustainable food packaging while accounting for multiple concerns; three speakers share findings from developing frameworks to make packaging safer, account for tradeoffs, and reduce plastic packaging use; three speakers share how policy is developed at the United Nations and European Union
Opinion: Unlearn how to waste plastics
Article by Environmental Health News discusses increasing challenge of plastic waste driven by economic pressure and growth; recycling and bioplastics deemed ‘simple solutions’ incapable of meeting problem’s scale
FDA sued over perchlorate petition rejection
Six U.S. NGOs file lawsuit against U.S. Food and Drug Administration over denial of earlier petition to ban perchlorate in FCMs; accuse FDA of ‘not protecting our health,’ call for petition reassessment
ECHA: Proposal for authorization of 11 SVHCs
ECHA recommends 11 SVHCs for inclusion in REACH Authorization List; substances listed in FCM inventories among candidates; public consultation open until February 18, 2016