News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
September 23, 2026
Food Packaging Forum (FPF) provides inputs to three public consultations on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR); developing sustainability criteria for plastic recycling technologies, conditions for using recycled materials sourced from outside the EU, and harmonization of recycled content calculations; FPF highlights need for chemical safety, transparency, and traceability across recycling technologies, imported recycled materials, and recycled-content claims
Reading time: 4 minutes
September 22, 2026
Epidemiological study with 5318 US mother-child pairs assesses 113 chemicals from 10 classes in urinary samples during pregnancy; finds that gestational exposure to multiple phthalates, alternative plasticizers, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is associated with shorter gestational age at birth and lower birth weight relative to gestational age
Reading time: 2 minutes
September 17, 2026
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) manual provides Member States with framework for developing plastic packaging and labeling standards; initiative seeks greater regional harmonization; also releases regional guidebook on phasing out single-use plastics; other harmonization tools under development in 2026
Reading time: 3 minutes
September 15, 2026
Environmental authorities issue 155 show-cause letters to companies over potential non-compliance with extended producer responsibility (EPR) requirements; plastic packaging recovery target rises to 60% in 2026; Philippine rules allow recycling, co-processing, waste-to-energy, and other forms of diversion to count toward targets
Reading time: 2 minutes
September 14, 2026
Scientists systematically identified 15 high-throughput in vitro assays for screening chemicals and mixtures for impacts on non-communicable diseases; approach integrates key characteristics concept and adverse outcome pathways (AOP); enables a more relevant toxicological screening of chemicals than is currently required by regulations
Reading time: 3 minutes
September 7, 2026
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) calls for stakeholder inputs on draft list of around 700 substances of concern (SoCs) in packaging to inform EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR); Food Packaging Forum (FPF) submits comments and identifies 42 additional hazardous chemicals in packaging; emphasizes importance of treating SoCs list as living document to reflect new evidence in the future
Reading time: 3 minutes
September 4, 2026
Principality of Monaco restricts plastic containers for ready-to-eat foods effective September 1, 2026; part of larger strategy to reduce single-use plastic waste; applies to food sold for immediate consumption or with use-by date of three days or less; exemptions include lids and closure systems, containers for fresh, cut, and unprocessed fruit, containers with internal plastic coating serving as functional layer
Reading time: 2 minutes
September 3, 2026
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) drafts standards for plastic food contact materials (FCMs) intended for child use and for microwave use; Food Packaging Forum (FPF) submits comments highlighting need for stronger chemical safety provisions; raises concerns on limited list of restricted chemicals, potential for regrettable substitutions, chemical safety issues of recycled plastics
Reading time: 3 minutes
September 1, 2026
All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Microplastics, UK, publishes 5-year report on state of microplastic pollution in the UK; authors call for precautionary approach and early implementation of coordinated actions to align with current evidence, need for policy leadership, and cost-effective management of microplastics and their adverse impacts
Topics: microplastics
Reading time: 2 minutes
September 1, 2026
Scientists from the Food Packaging Forum present practical grouping approach to address regulatory gaps in food contact chemicals; 87% of chemicals lack adequate safety data; study includes free tools to help stakeholders screen for and identify potentially hazardous chemicals
Topics: chemical safety, grouping
Reading time: 3 minutes
