News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
March 24, 2020
State Water Resource Control Board for the U.S. state of California publishes draft definition for microplastics in drinking water, criteria include having at least 2 dimensions in 1 – 5,000 µm range; public comments accepted until April 24, 2020
Topics: microplastics
Reading time: 1 minute
March 24, 2020
Government publishes draft screening assessment of 7 parabens, identifies 4 to present danger to human health or environment at current levels of exposure; proposed risk management published; findings open for public comment until May 13, 2020
Topics: parabens, regulation
Reading time: 1 minute
March 23, 2020
European Academies' Science Advisory Council provides seven recommendations to EU policymakers for transitioning to circular economy; include banning plastic waste exports, extending producer responsibility, ‘end misleading about bio-based alternatives’, limiting additives and resins
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 23, 2020
Public-private partnership sets targets for signatories by 2025; includes designing all packaging to be re-useable or at least recyclable, reducing virgin plastics by 20%, increasing recycling by 25%, having 30% recycled content
Topics: circular economy, plastics
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 23, 2020
German Environment Agency (UBA) examines REACH registration dossiers for medium tonnage band chemicals, finds 24% are non-compliant and 31% are too complex to determine compliance, concludes that dossier improvements may be needed
Topics: REACH, regulation
Reading time: 1 minute
March 23, 2020
Website compiles previously published studies related to lab measurements, field testing, and remediation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); reference standards for four PFAS mixtures can be ordered by research institutions in the U.S.
Topics: PFAS
Reading time: 1 minute
March 20, 2020
The Lancet publishes letters debating bisphenol A (BPA) measurement methods; U.S. authorities defend indirect approach, receive critical responses; researchers call for investigation of other environmental pollutants; Collaborative on Health and the Environment webinar on March 24, 2020 discusses results of study with lead author Patricia Hunt
Topics: bisphenol, bisphenol A
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 20, 2020
Study of 60 pregnant women finds frequent and high concentrations of bisphenols in maternal plasma, cord plasma, placenta
Reading time: 1 minute
March 20, 2020
Notification submitted to the World Trade Organization (WTO); notes changes planned to common manufacturing standards, allowing use of additional recycled plastic resins; comment period open until May 30, 2020
Reading time: 1 minute
March 18, 2020
Study led by U.S. National Institutes of Health finds SARS-CoV-2 virus remains on plastic and stainless steel for up to three days, cardboard up to one day; raises concerns regarding packaging as a potential vector for spreading the virus, potential need to wash or quarantine packaged products at home
Topics: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2
Reading time: 4 minutes
