Says true circularity for PET bottles in Europe is unobtainable; limited by current mechanical recycling processes and infrastructure; argues that claims of recyclability and recycled content are misleading; calls for more standardized communication practices
Migration from bamboo-containing plastic FCMs
Scientists detect dozens of volatile and non-volatile substances migrating from ‘bamboo’ food packaging; melamine migration exceeding specific migration limit; conclude bamboo-melamine articles ‘a risk to consumer’s health,’ their promotion as biodegradable ‘a fraud to consumers’
Terminus and BioICEP address multilayer recycling
Research consortium secures 12 million Euro funding, launches projects in-built Triggered Enzymes to Recycle Multi-layers: an Innovation for USes in packaging (Terminus) and The Bio–Innovation of a Circular Economy for Plastics (BioICEP) ; set goal to solve problems associated with multilayered packaging, transform linear to a circular process
China publishes new and revised FCM standards
National Health Commission publishes updated paper and board food contact material (FCM) standard; includes changes to migration testing protocol; new bamboo and wood FCM standard
Biomonitoring provides insights into nonylphenol exposure in Germany
Retrospective analyses of urinary nonylphenol (NP) levels in German students over past 30 years demonstrate omnipresence of NP exposure; scientists recommend using NP metabolites as biomarkers for NP exposure assessment; analysis points to foodstuff as major exposure source
Collaborative to verify and register safer chemical alternatives
Chem Forward and Sustainable Packaging Coalition launch collaborative to identify, assess, and verify safer alternatives for use in food packaging; plan to develop cloud-based registration system, highlight best practices, develop common agenda to accelerate systemic change
Using ToxCast data to assess food chemicals
Scientists explore the utility of-throughput screening data for hazard assessment and toxicological read-across of food-relevant chemicals; observe some biological targets to lack validated toxicity associations; demonstrate application in identifying out-of-domain compounds
Plastic component made from CO2
U.S. company Liquid Light produces PET component from CO2; agreement with The Coca-Cola Company to further develop technology
Report critically reviews brands’ plastics commitments
New report by the Changing Markets Foundation investigates commitments on plastic packaging made by largest food and consumer goods companies; criticizes consistently failed promises, sees voluntary initiatives as tactics to distract from and avoid responsibility
EFSA: Safety assessment alkyl ester polymer
Published safety assessment finds co-polymer containing modified C10-16 alkyl esters safe for use in food contact plastics under set conditions