Shareholder advocacy group As You Sow evaluates 50 largest US consumer-facing companies on their responses to address plastic pollution crisis; finds most companies too slow in adopting actions to prioritize packaging reduction and to promote reusability, recyclability, compostability; outlines key recommendations
Degradation of compostable plastics can increase toxicity, scientists emphasize
Studies analyze biodegradable – including compostable – plastics for their in vitro toxicity and chemical composition; comparison with conventional plastics indicates higher toxicity of compostables which further increases with photodegradation and composting; detect brominated flame retardants in “biodegradable”-labeled food packaging
EU adopts Zero Pollution Action Plan
European Commission announces adoption of action plan towards zero pollution for air, water, and soil; includes targets to by 2030 reduce plastic litter at sea by 50%, microplastics release into environment by 30%, residual municipal solid waste by 50%; will revise air and water quality standards, review majority of EU waste laws, increase enforcement
Nestlé steps towards packaging commitment
Food and beverage company Nestlé outlines specific steps in reaching its commitment of 100% recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025
EU Commission’s plastics plan: Challenges ahead
News outlet Euractiv publishes special report on packaging and environment; featured articles and interviews address circular economy and plastics strategy unveiled by EU Commission
China approves new FCMs, additives, resins
National Health Commission announces newly approved additives for food contact materials (FCMs), expanded FCM uses, and resins for use in plastics and coatings
FDA adds 7 substances to food contact inventory
U.S. Food and Drug Administration adds 7 new entries to Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substance (FCS) Notifications
EU notifies C9-C14 PFCA restriction to WTO
European Union notifies World Trade Organization of proposed amendment to REACH Restriction List (Annex XVII) to restrict manufacturing, use, placing on the market and import of C9-C14 perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs), their salts and related substances within the EU; long-chain PFCAs can be present in food contact materials as impurities but also degradation products of long-chain fluorotelomers
Scientists investigate chemicals in plant-based materials
Review summarizes chemicals present in and migrating from food contact articles made with wood, bamboo, and other plant-based materials; researchers identify and quantify 25 non-volatile compounds from bamboo, palm leaf, wood and wheat pulp dishes; tentatively identify 115 non-volatile chemicals in extracts from six plant fiber/plastic composites; detect phthalates in Brazilian dry foods in cellulose-based packaging
Commission publishes EDC criteria
European Commission proposes strongly science-based criteria to identify endocrine disruptors, endorses WHO definition, and publishes impact assessment on EDC criteria