Italian studies investigate consumer perception and attitude; find food- and packaging-related eco-labels to equally signal higher food quality and safety to consumers; demonstrate high willingness of consumers to buy active, intelligent, and sustainable packaging; survey in UK finds adding stickers with clear recycling messages increases recycling behavior
Recent reports on creating more circular food packaging
World Economic Forum (WEF) releases report on the Future of Reusable Consumption Models; aims to clarify “an alternative plastic waste-reduction model… beyond the recycling of waste”; Upstream publishes design principles for reusable packaging materials; The Consumer Goods Forum publishes nine “Golden Design Rules” for plastic packaging to increase recyclability
EFSA publishes draft opinion and protocol for phthalates in FCMs
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) publishes draft opinion on prioritization of phthalates used in food contact materials (FCMs), protocol for dietary exposure assessment of prioritized substances; both documents open for public comment until December 16, 2021
ECHA proposes not approving 4 silver compounds in FCMs
European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) announces opinion not approving silver compounds for application in food contact materials (FCMs); includes silver zinc zeolite, silver zeolite, silver copper zeolite, silver sodium hydrogen zirconium phosphate; finds risk unacceptable for human health; next meeting scheduled in June 2021
Australia releases National Plastic Plan
Australian government announces National Plastic Plan; outlines approaches to plastic recycling, replacing unnecessary plastics, reducing plastics’ impact on the environment; proposes investments in prevention, recycling, consumer education, research, and development
Phthalates: 'Safe' levels may not be protective of human health
New peer-reviewed scientific study by the Food Packaging Forum and academic scientists shows regulatory ‘safe’ limits for human exposure to phthalates may be set at levels not sufficiently protective of human health; analysis reviews 38 human health studies; highlights need for revising current approach and to re-assess the safety of chemicals already on the market
PFAS-Tox Database updated
Additional health and toxicology studies published through January 2021 now included in per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) database; free resource organizes information from 1068 published studies for 29 different PFAS
China requesting comments for five FCCs
China requests comments for five new food contact chemicals (FCCs); includes two additives, three polymer resins; consultation open until May 13, 2021
ECHA conference sums up first year of EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) scientists, and chemical supply chain stakeholders meet online for Safer Chemicals Conference; discuss changes to chemical assessments, nanomaterials, launch of SCIP database; highlights inefficient communication between stakeholders slowing down processes
ANSES proposes listing bisphenol B as SVHC
French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) proposes listing bisphenol B as REACH substance of very high concern (SVHC), suggests bisphenol B is an even more dangerous endocrine disruptor than bisphenol A; public consultation for identification dossier open until April 23, 2021