Australian start-up creates reusable coffee cups from husk waste accumulating during coffee processing; cups intended for café and home environments as alternative to ceramics and single-use disposable cups
BPI guidelines for compostable FCMs
Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) publishes set of guidelines for labeling and identifying compostable food contact materials (FCMs); aims to reduce contamination of composting waste streams; focuses on improved labelling and communication of compostable products
Coca-Cola bottle made of marine plastics
Company presents trial bottle with 25% of ‘recovered and recycled marine plastics’ content
FPF comments on integration of essential use concept
Food Packaging Forum (FPF) provides comments following a European Commission stakeholder consultation workshop on the essential use concept (ESU); finds integration of an ESU in EU’s food contact materials (FCM) regulation increases FCM safety by allowing easier and more efficient management of harmful chemicals; recommends integrating ESU into EU FCM regulations during current revision process
Conference on plastics and consumer protection
Plastics association organizes conference to discuss next steps for consumer protection and to establish multi-stakeholder dialogue
ECHA improves data access
ECHA structures publicly accessible data on chemicals according to lifecycle phases and availability of nanoform
Live: ECHA workshop on microplastics
ECHA holds stakeholder workshop on potential restriction of intentionally used microplastics on May 30-31, 2018; live webstream of plenary session on May 30 available
Recycling industry launches ‘RecyClass’ platform
Plastics Recyclers Europe introduces online tool ‘RecyClass’ to assess recyclability of plastic packaging, aims to combine knowledge of recyclers and packaging producers to improve packaging design for recycling
US NGOs: FDA must reassess safety of BPA
US scientists, public health and environmental organizations submit formal petition to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting it to restrict or remove current bisphenol A approvals for use in food packaging; cite new scientific evidence showing safe exposure level 5,000-times below FDA’s current limit
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