C&EN presents the debate on the costs of food packaging made of flexible plastics and multilayered structures: Less food waste and economic benefits vs. more difficult recycling and negative environmental impacts
Chemical burdens unbalanced
Majority of chemicals used without safety assessment; increased disease incidences
Global strategy on plastic pollution
United Nation Environmental Assembly (UNEA) discusses marine plastic litter and microplastics; over 90 international organizations endorse strategy to fight plastic pollution
BPA shown to disrupt sperm development
U.S. researchers show that brief exposures to BPA and other estrogens early in life can alter the stem cells involved in sperm production years later
Tracking fluorinated chemicals in the body
Scientists apply radiolabeling to study internal distribution of perfluorocarboxylic acids in mice; find uptake of both long- and short-chain substances in various tissues; method broadly applicable to study PFAS distribution in body and environment
‘Sippy cups’ in draft EU ban on BPA in FCMs
EU Commission adds ‘sippy cups’ to its draft proposal for ban on BPA in plastic FCMs intended for use by babies and young children
Chemical footprinting: 2017 annual report
Chemical Footprint Project publishes second annual report; measuring companies’ chemical footprint gaining importance; data for benchmarking and progress analysis now available
Key aspects of sustainability of food packaging
Foster sustainability through holistic considerations along the food production and supply chain
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
Belgian initiatives aim to reduce packaging waste and EDC exposure
New initiative to create reusable packaging system for Flemish region of Belgium; over 80 companies across the food, consumer products, and packaging supply chain sign on; Belgian federal government launching action plan on endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)