News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
May 11, 2020
UPSTREAM publication answers seven frequently asked questions on the safety of reusable products such as packaging and food service ware; emphasizes that single-use products are not safer than reusable ones, food safety regulations ensure proper cleaning and sanitation of reusable products
Reading time: 2 minutes
May 11, 2020
Researchers investigate current waste management system, identify long-term waste management contracts with local authorities as limiting improvements and innovation; recommend better distribution of value across system using extended producer responsibility, deposit schemes
Reading time: 2 minutes
May 11, 2020
Document outlines aims for the upcoming Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability; set to consider recent and ongoing regulatory reviews, address risks posed by endocrine disruptors, hazardous chemicals in products, combination effects; feedback accepted until June 20, 2020
Topics: European Commission, regulation
Reading time: 1 minute
May 11, 2020
Government publishes final regulatory text, substance approval linked to persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic properties; identity of new substances to be made publicly available after maximum period of 5 years; comes into force on January 1, 2021
Topics: china, regulation
Reading time: 2 minutes
May 8, 2020
UK environmental minister identifies the need to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as a group, included in response to a letter sent earlier by civil society organizations to UK agencies calling for PFAS restrictions in food packaging
Topics: PFAS, regulation
Reading time: 2 minutes
May 8, 2020
Non-governmental organization emphasizes five important aspects for the European Commission to consider when developing chemical strategy; includes creating industry incentives, focusing on hazards from intrinsic chemical properties, supply chain transparency, and closing regulatory gaps
Reading time: 2 minutes
May 8, 2020
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) publishes draft framework for developing protocols for scientific assessments, targeted to support EFSA’s staff and external experts
Topics: EFSA
Reading time: 1 minute
May 7, 2020
Peer-reviewed article in the journal Environmental Science and Technology reviews 71 published life cycle assessment (LCA) studies comparing packaging; investigates correlation of attributes such as recyclability and being biobased on total environmental impacts, recommends against focusing on individual attributes
Topics: life cycle assessment
Reading time: 2 minutes
May 7, 2020
Department of Health publishes assessment report for tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), concludes that it is suspected of causing causer; substance largely used as a flame retardant in circuit boards, included in database of food contact chemicals
Topics: flame retardants, regulation
Reading time: 1 minute
May 6, 2020
Government announces minimum 15 cent deposit that will apply to plastic beverage bottles less than 3 liters; new deposit regulations come into force on July 1, 2021; EU single-use plastic regulations become effective on January 1, 2022
Reading time: 1 minute
