News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
January 14, 2025
The Aluminum Association and Can Manufacturers Institute report lower aluminum beverage can recycling rates in 2023; Plastic Recyclers Europe announces decreased growth in capacity for plastic recycling in 2023 in EU27+3
Reading time: 2 minutes
January 14, 2025
South Korean study assesses link between microplastics in blood and plastic container use as well as blood coagulation disruptions; finds mostly polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene microplastics in blood; links higher microplastic levels to use of plastic containers, impaired blood clotting and increased inflammation, suggesting potential cardiovascular risks
Reading time: 2 minutes
January 13, 2025
U.S. Plastics Pact reports progress on 2025 targets to address plastic pollution; far off from reaching them especially regarding recycling rates; sets out new targets for moving beyond 2025 with more focus on reusable packaging
Topics: plastics pact, US
Reading time: 2 minutes
January 10, 2025
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) selects five chemicals to undergo risk evaluation under the Toxic Substance Control Act - four are used in food contact; announces the next five chemicals to start this prioritization process which might eventually lead to risk evaluation and seeks comments on their usage and hazards by March 18, 2025
Reading time: 1 minute
January 9, 2025
European Council formally adopts the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR); sets out targets for recycled content, reuse, and recyclability of food packaging; restricts certain single-use plastic food packaging; bans food packaging containing PFAS above specific thresholds
Reading time: 5 minutes
January 9, 2025
Public interest groups file lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over its refusal to address previous petitions to ban specific phthalates in food contact materials
Reading time: 2 minutes
December 20, 2024
Commission adopts ban of Bisphenol A in food contact materials; also applies to other harmful bisphenols; there will be an 18-month phase out period
Reading time: 1 minute
December 19, 2024
Study assesses migration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC) and polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) into olive oil; migration depends on plastic type, PAH type and temperature - being highest for PE, alkylated compared to non-alkylated PAHs, and at 125 °C compared to 20 °C, respectively
Reading time: 2 minutes
December 17, 2024
Fifth and planned final session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution took place in Busan, Republic of Korea on Nov 25 to Dec 2, 2024; no agreement was reached on the treaty text; extra session to continue negotiations being planned for sometime in 2025
Reading time: 3 minutes
December 13, 2024
Open letter signed by 50+ organizations calls for immediate action on food contact material regulation; cites presence of harmful chemicals found in food packaging and humans; says current regulation does not adequately protect human health
Reading time: 1 minute
