News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
December 14, 2020
Rethink Plastic Alliance reviewing four commonly cited life cycle assessments (LCAs) on chemical recycling; report identifies undisclosed data, flawed assumptions, questionable accounting methods; suggests LCAs should not be used for public communication or as the basis for political decision making or investment decisions, should be improved to be “more independent,” “transparent,” “comprehensive”
Topics: chemical recycling, LCA
Reading time: 3 minutes
December 11, 2020
Amazon announces ban on 17 chemicals in food packaging; includes per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), expanded polystyrene (EPS); restricted substance list (RSL) applies to Amazon Go, Amazon Go Grocery, Amazon Fresh, and Fresh grocery delivery
Reading time: 2 minutes
December 10, 2020
Collaboration on Health and the Environment (CHE) and University of California launch seven-part webinar series on cumulative impacts of toxic chemicals; aims to educate researchers, health professionals, policy makers, advocates and patients; addresses topics such as infertility, prenatal exposure
Reading time: 1 minute
December 9, 2020
Investigates technologies within three categories for plastic recycling; identifies concerns regarding substantial energy use, waste plastic input quality, presence of hazardous chemicals; recommends lack of data transparency be urgently addressed before further investments are made
Topics: chemical recycling
Reading time: 2 minutes
December 9, 2020
Zero Waste Europe (ZWE) publishes study comparing 32 life cycle assessments (LCAs) to evaluate single-use and reusable packaging; finds reusable glass bottles have 85% fewer carbon emissions than single-use with highest impacts from transport; breakeven point reached after two to three reuse cycles; suggests five key measures to increase sustainability of reusable packaging
Reading time: 2 minutes
December 9, 2020
Food Packaging Forum (FPF) releases global database of initiatives and commitments by food retailers and brands to voluntarily improve their food packaging; includes efforts to improve chemical safety and resource efficiency beyond legal requirements; currently contains over 250 unique companies and associations, will be regularly updated
Reading time: 2 minutes
December 9, 2020
15th European Bioplastics (EUBP) conference panel discusses role of biodegradable plastics in achieving climate neutral circular economy, argues application should be limited to waste collection applications; notes many composters still reject plastics, communication and clarification needed
Topics: biodegradability, EUPC
Reading time: 2 minutes
December 8, 2020
Zero Waste Europe (ZWE) publishes results of analyzed urine samples from 52 European decision-makers and public figures; tests for 28 chemicals commonly used in single-use plastic food packaging, shows average of 20 detected in each person; calls for decision-makers to prioritize public exposure to food contact chemicals
Reading time: 2 minutes
December 7, 2020
Smithers Pira’s annual conference on plastics and paper in contact with foodstuffs informs about the latest activities of the European Commission
Reading time: 4 minutes
December 4, 2020
NGOs and industry comment on changes to REACH Annexes VII and XI; criticize not taking into account current state of science, limiting the application of non-animal approaches, setting a cut-off date for existing data; concerns about repetition of animal studies among animal welfare NGOs
Reading time: 1 minute
