Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF) reports progress, or lack thereof, on corporate packaging commitments set for 2025; plastic pact signatories increased portfolio of recycled, recyclable, or compostable products by 2% between 2019 and 2021; reuse decreased, and virgin plastic use increased; EMF calling for stronger governmental action and support of UN plastic pollution treaty
Fitness check of non-REACH chemical policies
EU Commission publishes results of fitness check for EU’s chemicals policies (excluding REACH), confirms ‘high level of protection’ provided by current legislation, acknowledges implementation challenges
CEP Panel: 1st plenary meeting
EFSA’s newly formed CEP Panel held 1st plenary meeting, July 4-5, 2018; working groups established; ongoing mandates and PET recycling process discussed
EC proposes revisions to packaging and waste legislation
European Commission (EC) publishes proposal to revise the EU legislation on packaging and packaging waste; includes mandatory targets for waste reduction, re-use, and minimum recycled content in plastic packaging; based on three problems identified by an impact assessment: growing packaging waste generation, barriers to packaging recycling and re-use, and low recycling quality in plastic packaging
Study appraisal for BPA reassessment
European Food Safety Authority completes study appraisal methodology for BPA reassessment; final version of assessment protocol to be published later with new BPA opinion
Microplastics in bottled water
New study finds microplastic particles in popular bottled water brands, detects on average 10 larger-sized microplastic particles and over 300 smaller-sized, likely also plastic particles per liter; WHO to launch review of health risks
2016 report of French nano-registry
French environment ministry publishes 2016 registrations of nanomaterials; 13,353 substances declared, slightly less than in 2015
EU Parliament debates single-use plastics
EU Parliament debates directive on reducing marine litter from plastics, including restrictions for specific single-use plastic products; final vote scheduled for October 24, 2018
EU Parliament discusses plastics strategy and directive
European Parliament to vote on EU Commission’s plastics strategy on September 13, 2018; vote on single-use plastics directive planned for October 2018
BPA recognized as human endocrine disruptor
ECHA Member State Committee identifies bisphenol A as a substance of very high concern because of its endocrine disrupting effects in humans, in addition to its reprotoxic properties