US federal court sides with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over the use of perchlorate in food packaging; FDA’s 2017 denial of a citizen petition to regulate perchlorate in plastic food packaging “was neither arbitrary nor capricious… and did not violate the Food Act”
P&P conference 2020: News from the European Commission
Smithers Pira’s annual conference on plastics and paper in contact with foodstuffs informs about the latest activities of the European Commission
CVORR analysis: Bio-based vs. conventional plastics
Scientists compile matrix to compare the sustainability impacts of fossil carbon-based with bio-based plastics in the food packaging value chain; apply Complex Value Optimization for Resource Recovery (CVORR) base-line analysis, social, economic, environmental, technical metrics; study highlights knowledge gaps; discusses land-use change, chemical migration, eco-labels, biodegradability standards
FCCmigex database updated
The Food Packaging Forum updates Database on Migrating and Extractable Food Contact Chemicals (FCCmigex); encompasses 149 additional studies with more than 4600 new entries
EFSA: 4th FIP network meeting on FCMs
EFSA’s Food Ingredients and Packaging Scientific Network held fourth meeting on food contact materials on February 16, 2017; discussions focused on coatings; interest group on evaluation of coatings formed
Australian government to start regulating packaging
Australian environment ministers agree to “address the use of harmful chemicals in food packaging,” create packaging design standards and targets, harmonize curbside recycling programs; details forthcoming
Paper straws not safer than plastic straws, scientists find
Study analyzes non-volatile compounds migrating from nine different printed and non-printed paper straws into soda; identifies 19 chemicals in concentrations up to 3.6 mg/kg soda; chemicals include suspected carcinogen and endocrine disruptors; findings suggest paper straws are not a safer alternative to plastic straws
Ways forward to improve polymer assessment and management
Critical review evaluates regulatory approaches of polymer assessment and management; identifies critical knowledge gaps by comparison with recent scientific findings; proposes policy options for safe and sustainable polymer use; suggest more transparency, standardized testing procedures, and improved understanding of environmental fate and hazards
Global commitment to tackle plastic pollution
Ellen MacArthur Foundation initiates New Plastics Economy Global Commitment to stop plastic pollution at source; 290+ organizations pledge to eliminate, innovate, circulate plastic packaging
Asian governments aim to expand recycled content in plastic FCMs
Overview article examines recent commitments by South Korea, China, and Thailand to launch or expand approval of recycled plastics for use in food contact materials (FCMs); lack of regional definition of ‘food grade plastic’ seen as stumbling block to many local recyclers in meeting growing demand