US state’s Department of Toxic Substances Control proposes regulating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as single class under Safer Consumer Products Framework, approach based on environmental persistence; could help other regulatory agencies, be applied to other complex compound classes such as microplastics
FDA adds 13 new substances to FCS inventory
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adds 13 new entries to its Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substances (FCS)
Plastics Recycling for Food Contact
Guidance on Key Considerations for the Identification and Selection of Safer Chemical Alternatives
Study analyzes unknown chemicals in recycled plastic
Scientists develop automated non-target approach to identify and risk assess unknown chemicals in food contact plastics; detect over 300 chemical features and tentatively identify 83 compounds in a recycled polyethylene film used as proof-of-concept
Podiumsdiskussion zu Mikroplastik in der Umwelt
New textbook on designing safer and more sustainable chemicals
Academic scientists from ETH Zürich publish textbook teaching fundamental tools, methods, and concepts for designing chemical products and processes; includes life cycle assessment, product and process risk assessment, thermal safety, key regulations, societal dialogue; features workable case study developed with industry partners
Successful packaging initiatives require more than changing materials
Consulting company Gartner Inc. predicts 90% of sustainable packaging commitments will not be met by 2025
Microplastics in humans: current knowledge and potential implications
Review summarizes microplastics abundance and characteristics in human biological samples including current research approaches employed, challenges, and prospects; study indicates microplastics impact human meconium and placenta microbiota; review outlines current evidence on microplastic effects upon exposure during early developmental stage
Hazard prioritization of printing inks and adhesives substances
Scientific study performs hazard prioritization on chemicals in printing inks and adhesives applied to plastic food packaging; uses publicly available “substances of concern” lists and an in silico tool; identifies 636 high and 1024 medium priority substances of which 696 ranked as “very high priority substances” by experts