Minutes from recent meetings of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) panel and working groups on food contact materials (FCMs), bisphenol A (BPA), recycling plastics, and phthalates
Outcomes and recommendations from EFSA’s ONE Conference
Published journal article and conference report from European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) conference in June 2022 summarize main outcomes and recommendations; includes investing to keep up with new science, capitalizing on data, future preparedness, and applying one health approach in future decision making
Report: how to transition from single use to reuse systems
Global Plastics Policy Centre assesses approaches to adopt reuse systems to combat plastic pollution; review contains 320 articles and papers and 55 expert interviews; defines four-phase roadmap for transition
Overview of intentionally used food contact chemicals and their hazards
Online symposium on EDCs and health impacts
Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) together with Belgian Independent Health Insurance Funds to host online symposium on November 19, 2020; focus on reducing health impacts from endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs); set to feature talks from health and policy experts; registration free of charge
Different perspectives on food contact materials: Working together to make FCMs safer
The 2021 Food Packaging Forum (FPF) Workshop took place online in a virtual format on October 6-8, 2021, under the theme “Different perspectives on food contact materials: working together to make FCMs safer.” The event featured a range of high-profile speakers from different areas of expertise and provided insights into the latest science and policy-making within the field, as well as discussed how stakeholders can better work together to make food contact materials (FCMs) safer for everyone. Over 150 registered participants joined […]
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
Forecasting food packaging in 2040
UPM Specialty Papers and Smithers survey over 200 packaging professionals to make predictions on the food packaging market in 2040; respondents believe that by 2040 packaging sustainability will be dictated by government mandates and consumers will no longer accept tradeoffs between sustainability and convenience
DG SANTE updates on FCM regulation and BPA restriction
European Commission’s working group on food contact materials (FCMs) shares updates and timelines on revision of the FCM regulation and BPA restriction; ongoing FCM sustainability study will be completed by February 2025; BPA restriction to be sent to Parliament and Council in mid-July
Packaging stakeholders endorse EPR statement
Over 100 businesses from the packaging value chain endorse extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes for packaging; includes food brands and packaging companies such as PepsiCo, Nestlé, Mars Inc., and TetraPak, as well as NGOs, recyclers, and government organizations; endorsers commit to aligning their organization to EPR principles and support engagement with governments, peers, collaborators, and stakeholders