Nature Sustainability publishes research integrating litter inventories from seven aquatic environments around the globe; finds food packaging makes up the largest share of litter in all aquatic environments (50-88%), except the open ocean; of 112 litter types, 10 make up 75% of litter; top 4 items come from food packaging (44% of total): plastic bags, plastic bottles, food containers, cutlery, and wrappers
Restriction of 6 PFASs progresses
ECHA’s risk assessment and socio-economic committees agree with restriction proposal for 6 per- and polyfluorinated substances; CLP classifications adopted for four other FCM-relevant substances
Resorcinol inclusion in CoRAP criticized
Guest column in Chemical Watch criticizes the inclusion of resorcinol in the Community Rolling Action Plan (CoRAP) for 2019-2021 to be assessed by France due to potential thyroid effects; points out to previously concluded evaluation by Finland, lack of remaining data gaps or new information to justify re-evaluation
Webinar series: Current opportunities for better identification of endocrine disrupting chemicals at European level – Part 1
Safety assessment of biodegradable polymer
EFSA deems poly((R)-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-(R)-3-hydroxyhexanoate) safe for use in food contact materials for dry or solid food
Scientists send letter about EDC criteria
Group of scientists express concern about proposed EDC criteria in open letter to EU Health Commissioner Andriukaitis and make recommendations for improvement
Study finds composite packaging causes more packaging waste
German Gesellschaft für Verpackungsmarktforschung finding paper composite packaging use will increase until 2025, uses 40% more material; paper composites cause more packaging waste, cause problems for recycling, replace hardly or non-recyclable or hardly recyclable plastic packaging, compete with improvement of plastic recycling; may be harmful to circular economy (in German)
Recycled materials: Food contact compliance considerations in the US
EC: draft proposal to restrict intentionally added microplastics
European Commission (EC) publishes draft proposal to restrict intentionally-added synthetic polymer microparticles < 5 mm; could ban use of microplastics in cosmetics, cleaning products, pesticides, and sport fields; environmental groups warn of shortcomings
Chemical composition of consumer products
Ensia article outlines efforts of U.S. states to demand information on chemicals of concern in consumer products from companies