News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
June 26, 2020
U.S. California’s Water Resource Control Board adopts definition for microplastics in drinking water; long-term monitoring of microplastics planned in drinking water supplies to understand implications for public health
Topics: microplastics
Reading time: 1 minute
June 25, 2020
French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (Anses) publishes review on presence of engineered nanomaterials in food and food packaging; identifies set of primary uses and substances
Topics: nanomaterials
Reading time: 1 minute
June 25, 2020
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) identifies four new substances of very high concern (SVHCs) set to be phased-out; two are food contact chemicals including 1-vinylimidazole and 2-methylimidazole
Reading time: 1 minute
June 24, 2020
Food Packaging Forum (FPF) submits feedback on European Commission’s roadmap to develop chemicals strategy for sustainability; calls for sufficient support to establish appropriate test methods, prioritize substitution of the known hazardous chemicals currently authorized for use in food contact materials
Reading time: 1 minute
June 23, 2020
Industry association Plastic Recyclers Europe (PRE) publishes market data related to annual production, use, and recycling of flexible plastics in the EU; food packaging sector primarily uses polyolefin films, presence of multi-material films complicates recycling; more infrastructure for collection, separation, recycling needed
Topics: plastics, polyolefins
Reading time: 2 minutes
June 22, 2020
Greenpeace and UPSTREAM publish statement signed by wide-range of doctors and public health researchers, emphasize that reuse systems in stores and restaurants can be implemented safely during COVID-19 pandemic by following standard sanitation laws; single-use items not inherently safer than reusables
Reading time: 2 minutes
June 22, 2020
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces that no federal limits will be set on perchlorate in drinking water; administration defends decision as necessary to remove overregulation, health advocates argue it is illegal and unscientific
Topics: EPA, perchlorate
Reading time: 2 minutes
June 19, 2020
Scientists create set of 17 questions to help innovators consider potential risks to human health posed by nano-sized products or materials during the innovation process, aiming to guide development and identify safety issues already at early design stages
Reading time: 1 minute
June 19, 2020
Non-governmental organization European Environmental Bureau (EEB) publishes position paper setting 8 priorities for upcoming EU Chemical Strategy for Sustainability; calls for revision of food contact materials legislation, creation of chemical substitution forums and technical support centers for small and medium sized businesses, ‘polluter pays’ tax
Reading time: 2 minutes
June 18, 2020
Shareholder advocacy group As You Sow evaluates 50 largest US consumer-facing companies on their responses to address plastic pollution crisis; finds most companies too slow in adopting actions to prioritize packaging reduction and to promote reusability, recyclability, compostability; outlines key recommendations
Reading time: 2 minutes
