News Article

Consumers perceive compostable packaging as most sustainable, report says

McKinsey report investigates consumers’ attitudes toward sustainability in food packaging; finds hygiene & food safety, as well as shelf life are most important aspects to consumers; consumers think compostable and plant-based packaging is the most sustainable, metal containers among least sustainable

News Article

Analysis of chemically non-compliant products

European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) analyzes European RAPEX database on non-food products, finds 92% of tested and non-compliant REACH chemicals found in products were imported from outside of Europe; calls for improved enforcement and tools

News Article

Kenya Plastic Pact 2030 roadmap

Kenya Plastics Pact publishes roadmap to 2030 with four main targets to tackle plastic waste and pollution; targets focus on replacing single-use plastic packaging, reusability, recyclability; Pact now has 34 signatories

News Article

Scientists debate bisphenol measurements

The Lancet publishes letters debating bisphenol A (BPA) measurement methods; U.S. authorities defend indirect approach, receive critical responses; researchers call for investigation of other environmental pollutants; Collaborative on Health and the Environment webinar on March 24, 2020 discusses results of study with lead author Patricia Hunt

News Article

15th amendment to EU plastic FCM regulation published

European Commission publishes final text further amending Regulation 10/2011 on plastic food contact materials and articles; includes introduction of approved use of new substances, updates specific migration limits, allows for migration testing of entire food processing equipment

News Article

ECHA proposes 74 chemicals for evaluation

European Chemicals Agency announces draft plan for EU Member States to evaluate 74 chemicals under the Community rolling action plan (CORAP) in years 2020-2022

News Article

Plastic recycling: Future scenarios and behavioral influences

Five articles discuss future recycling and/or consumer waste sorting; outline future recycling technologies and recycled plastic applications; identify gaps between recycling technologies and targets of multi-material multilayer plastic packaging; find consumers wrongly dispose bioplastics and that packaging design affects sorting behavior; show single-use bag bans able to increase recycling contamination

News Article

EU Farm to Fork Strategy announces timeline for FCM revisions

European Commission publishes strategy aiming to change how Europeans value food sustainability; confirms that current EU regulations on food contact materials (FCMs) will be revised to reduce use of hazardous chemicals and support re-usable packaging solutions; proposed revision to be released end of 2022

News Article

Measuring plastic particles released from food packaging and in human lungs

Scientists investigate plastic particles released from store-bought food packaging as well as human and mice health impacts of exposure; report single-use plastic products release >1012 nano-sized particles during use; find microplastics to suppress lysosomal activity in mouse macrophages; first detection of microplastics within human lung tissue samples; in vitro neurotoxicity study finds microplastics negatively impact human forebrain organoid development