11th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention lists UV absorber as Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP); first non-halogenated POP under the Convention; also listing of flame retardant dechlorane plus and pesticide methoxychlor in Annex A
Free tool helps companies design circular packaging strategy
The Recycling Partnership and SYSTEMIQ launch Plastic IQ, a free tool to help US companies make their plastic packaging strategy more sustainable; tool assesses current packaging impacts from consumption through end-of-life, builds customizable action plans, and compares “circularity of packaging strategy against industry best practices”
Push to ban polystyrene packaging in London
London restaurant chefs call for ban on polystyrene food packaging; UK food packaging association opposes request; recycler says focus should be on creating circular material systems
Food and beverage packaging conference
2nd international conference on food and beverage packaging in June 2016 in Rome, Italy
Replacing sticker labels with laser marks
Article in The Guardian informs about laser marking technique for fruit and vegetables; retail trial using technology as alternative to sticker labels on organic produce
Food packaging material as a source of toxic chemicals
Collegium Helveticum conference focuses on everyday exposures to toxic chemicals and how to reduce them; features presentation and discussion with Food Packaging Forum scientists Jane Muncke and Lisa Zimmermann on the presence of hazardous chemicals in food contact materials
More government action on hazardous chemicals needed
UNEP calls for bolder government regulation of chemicals to boost development of safer compounds and phase out hazardous substances
WRAP and Ellen MacArthur to tackle plastics in UK
Ellen MacArthur Foundation and UK’s Waste and Resources Action Program announce initiative to tackle plastics in the UK; focus on plastic packaging; aim to eliminate single-use plastics, boost recycling, mobilize citizens
ChemSec report on circular economy
Published report focuses on chemicals as overlooked part of a circular economy; urges companies to not rely on legal compliance alone, calls for avoiding hazardous substances during design stage and speeding up regulation
New form of PLA seen as beneficial for application in hot food packaging
Researchers develop a more thermally resistant form of polylactic acid (PLA) plastic; provides clear, tough, and heat resistant material with the potential to expand PLA market application and reduce price