Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) evaluates eight chemical recycling facilities in the United States; reports that ‘recycled’ material produced by at least five facilities ultimately gets burned for heat or energy production; six facilities are potentially permitted to release hazardous air pollutants such as benzene, styrene, and arsenic; two US states ease restrictions on chemical recycling facilities
Use of plant-based packaging encouraged
The U.S. Department of Agriculture supports manufacture and use of plant-based bottles and packaging
Swiss industry discusses packaging of the future
Trade association’s annual conference 2019 zooms in on criteria for future-proof packaging solutions, focuses on recycling and consumer education
Challenges and developments in plastic converter industry
Food Contact Plastics Seminar 2019 discusses use of the mutual recognition principle, improved supply chain communication, analysis of non-intentionally added substances, and regulation of recycling for plastic FCMs
BPA linked to miscarriages
Higher risk of miscarriage in women highly exposed to BPA; lead author advises pregnant women to avoid BPA exposure
EDC criteria should be science-based
Endocrine Society meets European Commissioner, highlights EDCs as public health threat and urges Commissioner to adopt science-based criteria without potency cutoffs
EDCs: Sweden wins court case against European Commission
General Court of the European Union concludes that the European Commission has breached EU law by failing to define criteria for identification of endocrine disrupting chemicals
Symposium on Food Contact Materials Safety
International Food Contact Materials Safety Symposium in Guangzhou, China brings together academic, industry, regulatory and civil society experts to discuss developments towards safer and sustainable packaging
Opinion: TSCA reform is toxic
Article in The Intercept outlines how U.S. chemicals regulation reform overrides states’ efforts to restrict toxic chemicals
Pittsfield discusses polystyrene ban
The U.S. city Pittsfield may ban polystyrene food packaging due to health and environmental concerns