EU and U.S. projects and collaborations focus on nanotechnology; prioritize joint research areas, develop categorization scheme, review gaps in existing nanotoxicology research, aim to establish criteria for efficient risk assessment
Impacts of plastics across the food system
Policy brief from Scientists’ Coalition discusses how plastics in the food system from farm to table to trash impact human health and the environment; provides suggestions for how UN Plastics Treaty can address the drivers and impacts of food system plastics use
Plastics recyclers call for separate collection
Plastics Recyclers Europe issue bales characterization guidelines aiming to promote separate collection of different types of plastics for recycling
73 mio t of plastic film will be used in 2021
Smithers Rapra publishes a report on the future of global plastic films market; forecasts an annual growth rate of 3-6% and a demand of 73 million metric tons to be reached by 2021
TMBPF as BPA alternative for coating epoxies
Article in Chemical Watch discusses tetramethyl bisphenol F as an alternative monomer to produce bisphenol-based epoxies without endocrine activity
What’s new in bioplastics?
12th annual European Bioplastics conference discusses food brand owners’ use of bioplastics, biodegradable solutions for multilayer food packaging, and production of new polymer PEF
Growing demand for mono-material packaging
Report by Smithers predicts compound annual growth rate of 3.8% for mono-material plastic packaging films on global market; sees fast growth for polyethylene and polypropylene, slow growth for regenerated cellulose fiber, decline for polyvinyl chloride materials
FPF workshop on hazardous substances
Industry news provider reports on FPF’s workshop on hazardous substances in food contact materials; chemical risk assessment needs to consider cocktail effects and long-term exposures
Microplastics may affect the human microbiome
Scientists explore potential impacts of microplastics on human intestine ecology; microplastics may drive unhealthy changes in the gut microbiome; authors highlight importance of assessing human microplastics exposure and hazards for the gut
ISOE: Guidance on reducing and improving food packaging materials
Scientists at the German Institute for Social-Ecological Research (ISOE) give practical recommendations for food supply companies, associations as well as decision-makers related to reducing single-use and supporting multiple-use packaging, recycling, and innovation on a technological and organizational level