News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
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
March 18, 2020
UPSTREAM encourages consumers to continue using reusable items with regular washing using soap, expects zero-waste efforts and bring-your-own container programs to further gain momentum after pandemic ends; expanded business models needed to promote sanitizing and reusing packaging
Reading time: 3 minutes
