Obesity, asthma, autism, ADHD among U.S. children have continuously increased over past decade, new studies find; Mother Jones article discusses nutrition, chemicals and physical activity as key factors in childhood obesity
Review on metals and autism
Scientists review evidence on links between autism spectrum disorder and toxic metal(loids) such as lead, mercury, aluminum, arsenic, postulate mechanism based on neuroinflammation, oxidative stress
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
Free tool helps companies design circular packaging strategy
The Recycling Partnership and SYSTEMIQ launch Plastic IQ, a free tool to help US companies make their plastic packaging strategy more sustainable; tool assesses current packaging impacts from consumption through end-of-life, builds customizable action plans, and compares “circularity of packaging strategy against industry best practices”
Colombia launches Plastics Pact while previous Pacts struggle with 2025 targets
Colombia Plastics Pact launches; the second Latin American country to join the Plastics Pact program; reports show UK and US Plastics Pacts are unlikely to hit 2025 goals as total plastic use keeps increasing
Policy brief: effectiveness of national action plans for global plastics treaty
Global Plastics Policy Centre publishes analysis to support INC-2; finds national action plans need to be reformed to maximize effectiveness
Global Commitment and Brand Audit reports 2019
New Plastics Economy progress report applauds steps taken by signatories, highlights reductions in virgin plastic use by corporations, new policies introduced by governments; reminds readers much still to be done by 2025; Break Free From Plastic publishes 2019 Brand Audit Report, calls on top brands to reduce single-use plastic items
Starbucks to trial compostable cups
Coffee company and coffeehouse chain Starbucks announces trialing of recyclable, compostable cups in several U.S. cities; NGO highlights need for change in consumer behavior, advocates for more reusable cups
Melamine migration above EU limits in some children’s cups
Danish Consumer Council reports melamine migration from five of eight tested children’s cups are above legal limits; migration tests undertaken after cups were washed 20 times and filled with a hot drink to simulate use; melamine classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans in the EU
Lead and arsenic in food contact paper
Low migration of lead and arsenic measured in food contact paper bought in Korea; resulting human exposure estimated to be within safe levels