U.S. state regulations, consumer and retailer actions on chemicals in food packaging more effective than FDA regulation, according to experts at Chemical Watch conference
Recent conferences on plastics recycling
Series of recent conferences on both continents focus on discussing challenges and opportunities surrounding plastics recycling, increasing recycled content in products; group of NGOs criticize Circular Plastics Alliance for overlooking hazardous chemicals; predicted lower prices of virgin PET seen as future test of commitment to set sustainability targets
ASEAN member actions on plastic and chemical pollution
Nations in Southeast Asia collectively working on reducing plastic pollution and related chemical hazards; Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) signs off on project to “combat” marine plastic; Thailand plans ban on plastic scrap imports; new research available on sources of plastic pollution in Indonesia and Vietnam; Vietnam and Singapore implementing stricter chemical regulations; extended producer responsibility for plastic waste becomes law in Philippines
Code Check on reducing exposure to hazardous food packaging chemicals
Article by product ingredient transparency app Code Check provides overview of some hazardous chemicals that can be present in food packaging; provides tips for reducing exposure
Major retailers set chemical innovation priorities
Retail Leadership Council issues statement outlining priority product categories and chemical classes for safer chemical alternatives in products, sets roadmap for increasing transparency for data sharing between businesses and with consumers
9th Cycle Talk
Empack 2020
FPF 2019 Workshop – Improving the chemical safety of food contact articles: accelerating science and innovation
Greenpeace advocates reuse over plastic recycling
Greenpeace Switzerland publishes statement and report, criticizes increasing focus on plastic collection and recycling; argues this misleads consumers, hinders implementation of reuse and extended producer responsibility, recommends providing necessary infrastructure, adaptation of logistics, implementing reuse and return models
Packaging stakeholder guidance on converting to reuse, using safer additives
Sustainable Packaging Coalition publishes guidance for converting to refillable or returnable packaging systems; CHEM Forward releases tool to help identify safer additives to use in plastic packaging