News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
March 11, 2021
Upstream publishes overview article discussing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging, sees recent improvements; views EPR as foundation of circular economy and calls for EPR policies to also focus on developing new reuse/refill systems, include targets for litter prevention and mitigation; advocates for binding reuse targets similar to EU's recycling targets to create conditions for businesses to safely invest in upscaling reuse
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 11, 2021
Consultancy McKinsey & Company presents results from survey on consumers’ attitudes towards packaging and concerns around sustainability in ten emerging markets; finds greatest consumer concern in China, India and Indonesia; suggests as first action to decrease packaging complexity, reduce unnecessary packaging, exchange multi- with mono-layer materials
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 10, 2021
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) publication aims to increase agreement on approach and criteria for alternatives selection, set minimum requirements to determine safer substitutes; provides guidance on setting scope, using comparative hazard and exposure assessments, comparing trade-offs; applies framework in example case study
Topics: risk assessment, substitution
Reading time: 1 minute
March 10, 2021
European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) announces opinion not approving silver compounds for application in food contact materials (FCMs); includes silver zinc zeolite, silver zeolite, silver copper zeolite, silver sodium hydrogen zirconium phosphate; finds risk unacceptable for human health; next meeting scheduled in June 2021
Reading time: 1 minute
March 10, 2021
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) publishes update on risk assessment of hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDDs); results support conclusion that dietary exposure in EU not a health concern except for breastfed children; panel will consider mixture approach once risk assessments of all groups of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) updated
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 8, 2021
Drug store chain Rite Aid expands its chemicals policy to cover food contact materials (FCMs); restricted substances list sets concentration limits, does not allow intentional use in food packaging of various heavy metals, all ortho-phthalates, all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
Topics: bisphenol, bisphenol A, bisphenol B, bisphenol F, bisphenol S, heavy metals, PFAS, phthalates
Reading time: 1 minute
March 5, 2021
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adds 18 new entries to its Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substances (FCS)
Topics: FDA, food packaging
Reading time: 3 minutes
March 4, 2021
EU Court of Justice’s General Advocate recommends ban on bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in recycled polyvinyl chloride (PVC); previous decision considered inadequate as it disregards endocrine disrupting properties of DEHP; NGO criticizes REACH lacking necessary tools to manage recycled materials
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 1, 2021
Food Packaging Forum’s 2021 workshop to take place virtually in three sessions on October 6th, 7 th, and 8th, 2021; expert talks and discussion sessions to focus on understanding different perspectives and working together to make food contact materials safer; registration now open
Reading time: 1 minute
March 1, 2021
First webinar on March 18, 2021, within Food Packaging Forum's (FPF) webinar series on challenges and opportunities for food contact materials within the EU's Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability; will feature two expert talks on hazardous chemicals and on a history of safe and sustainable chemistry to support implementation of the strategy; registration open and free
Topics: chemicals strategy, regulation
Reading time: 2 minutes
