News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
June 18, 2021
Two new reviews investigate types, properties, and application of edible films and coatings applied on food; reuse of food waste to protect fresh food; addition of nanomaterials identified to further increase mechanical and barrier properties of edible films
Topics: active packaging, coating
Reading time: 2 minutes
June 17, 2021
2021 Smithers Pira conference covers global developments in food contact regulations and materials including a session on the risk assessment of non-intentionally added substances (NIAS); Marco Zhong outlines efforts China is taking to assess NIAS in recycled and biodegradable materials for safe food contact application; Marinella Vitulli focuses on applied testing schemes for NIAS identification, stresses that the right analytical approach is key
Reading time: 2 minutes
June 17, 2021
European Environmental Bureau releases discussion paper and policy briefs with recommendations for European Commission’s Sustainable Products Initiative; discusses ideas to integrate the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability into product regulation; also identifies measures to increase value chain transparency
Topics: NIAS
Reading time: 2 minutes
June 16, 2021
CUSP cluster launches with five research projects supported by €30 million in EU funding; aims to investigate complex relationships between micro- and nanoplastics and human health over the next five years; Food Packaging Forum collaborates within the AURORA project focused on early-life health
Reading time: 2 minutes
June 16, 2021
Over 100 businesses from the packaging value chain endorse extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes for packaging; includes food brands and packaging companies such as PepsiCo, Nestlé, Mars Inc., and TetraPak, as well as NGOs, recyclers, and government organizations; endorsers commit to aligning their organization to EPR principles and support engagement with governments, peers, collaborators, and stakeholders
Reading time: 1 minute
June 16, 2021
2021 Smithers Pira conference covers global developments in food contact regulations and materials; opening keynote by Jonathan Briggs details latest developments on the European Commission’s (EC) update on food contact material (FCM) legislation; release of the EC’s final impact assessment pushed back to 2023, but staff working document on FCMs planned for the end of 2021
Topics: European Commission, regulation
Reading time: 2 minutes
June 15, 2021
Nature Sustainability publishes research integrating litter inventories from seven aquatic environments around the globe; finds food packaging makes up the largest share of litter in all aquatic environments (50-88%), except the open ocean; of 112 litter types, 10 make up 75% of litter; top 4 items come from food packaging (44% of total): plastic bags, plastic bottles, food containers, cutlery, and wrappers
Reading time: 2 minutes
June 14, 2021
Global PFAS Science Council comments on proposed revision of European Union classification, labeling and packaging (CLP) regulation; calls for the CLP to “introduce persistence as a stand-alone hazard classification”
Reading time: 1 minute
June 14, 2021
Scientists at the German Institute for Social-Ecological Research (ISOE) give practical recommendations for food supply companies, associations as well as decision-makers related to reducing single-use and supporting multiple-use packaging, recycling, and innovation on a technological and organizational level
Reading time: 2 minutes
June 11, 2021
Multidisciplinary panel by Science Advice for Policy by European Academies (SAPEA) discusses how consumers perceive biodegradable plastics; reviews how communication can support management and proper disposal; identifies market and policy options to increase awareness
Topics: biodegradability, bioplastics
Reading time: 0 minutes
