News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
March 15, 2024
Report maps scientific data on more than 16,000 plastic chemicals; finds gaps in current governance and knowledge that prevent effective management; recommends policy actions based on current state-of-the-science
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 6, 2024
Policy brief from Scientists’ Coalition discusses how plastics in the food system from farm to table to trash impact human health and the environment; provides suggestions for how UN Plastics Treaty can address the drivers and impacts of food system plastics use
Topics: plastics, plastics treaty
Reading time: 0 minutes
March 5, 2024
European Parliament and Council conclude negotiations on packaging and packaging waste regulation (PPWR); bans all PFAS in food packaging; targets at least 10% reusable beverage packaging by 2030; requires deposit return system for plastic and metal beverage containers; packaging reduction targets set to start in 2030
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 4, 2024
By a vote of 587 to 8, Members of the European Parliament voted to prohibit the exporting of plastic waste from the EU to non-OECD countries, strengthen regulations on shipments to OECD countries, and increase transparency between EU Member States
Reading time: 0 minutes
March 4, 2024
European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) publishes life cycle assessment (LCA) case studies covering five single-use versus reusable packaging scenarios; incorporates 16 impacts; paper production practices and consumer behavior play significant role in final, single impact score; reuse tended to perform better in most scenarios, significantly so when comparing reusable glass bottles versus single-use glass
Reading time: 4 minutes
March 1, 2024
Joint publication from the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) and The Endocrine Society establishes state of endocrine (i.e., hormone) disruption research; reviews knowledge of human health effects from EDC exposure in pesticides, plastics, PFAS, and children’s products; calls for chemical regulations based on modern understanding of how hormones act and how EDCs can affect these actions
Topics: EDC
Reading time: 0 minutes
March 1, 2024
Two studies use Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program in the US to investigate chemical exposures and birth outcomes; several phthalates associated with decreased gestational age, increased risk of preterm birth; ~56,595 preventable preterm births and $3.84 billion healthcare costs in US annually
Reading time: 4 minutes
February 28, 2024
German biomonitoring study finds mono-n-hexyl phthalate in majority of samples, indicating widespread exposure to substance of very high concern (SVHC) di-n-hexyl phthalate or related compounds; sources of exposure currently under investigation; contribution of food contact materials to human exposure possible, but only limited data available
Reading time: 3 minutes
February 23, 2024
Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare publishes lists of polymers, additives, and monomers permitted for use in food contact; enforcement of updated list and use requirements set for June 1, 2025; Japanese industry organization publishes discussion paper on chemicals management for products in the circular economy
Topics: Japan, regulation
Reading time: 1 minute
February 22, 2024
Looming March 4th deadline pressures EU institutions to find agreement on open points within the draft Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR); steering note from Belgian presidency calls for compromises, highlights key topics; stakeholders express concerns over draft regulation’s lightweighting of materials, requirement for closed loop recycling processes, and handling of chemical safety
Reading time: 6 minutes
