Six speakers share their views on how to improve food contact material (FCM) safety; different approaches might complement one another; linking scientific research, policy making and industry initiatives could be the key to safe FCMs
PET bottle value chain addresses NIAS compliance
European PET industry associations form group to focus on regulatory compliance of PET food packaging regarding non-intentionally added substances
Ecodesign of plastics
NGO ECOS launches study on ecodesign of plastics; anticipated report seeks to assess available policy tools, identify development needs
Global commitment to tackle plastic pollution
Ellen MacArthur Foundation initiates New Plastics Economy Global Commitment to stop plastic pollution at source; 290+ organizations pledge to eliminate, innovate, circulate plastic packaging
Nestlé steps towards packaging commitment
Food and beverage company Nestlé outlines specific steps in reaching its commitment of 100% recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025
Opinion: Unlearn how to waste plastics
Article by Environmental Health News discusses increasing challenge of plastic waste driven by economic pressure and growth; recycling and bioplastics deemed ‘simple solutions’ incapable of meeting problem’s scale
US state of Washington picks new chemical groups for regulatory scrutiny
Washington state Department of Ecology publishes list of seven new priority chemical groups for future regulatory scrutiny as part of the Safer Products for Washington program; includes lead, cadmium, and formaldehyde; earlier in 2024, Washington passed the strongest regulation on lead in cookware in the US
Utility of bioassays in safety assessment
Scientists demonstrate utility of bioassays in FCM safety assessment using 4-nonylphenol (4NP) as model substance; 4NP levels detected by bioassays considered relevant for safety assessment
Beverage and recycling companies pledge increased packaging collection
American Beverage Association launches initiative to bring $400 million in investment to improve recycled plastics quality and availability in U.S.; Tomra aims to enable 40% of global plastic packaging to be recycled by 2030
ECHA: Registrations must ‘reflect the most up-to-date knowledge’
European Chemicals Agency reminds companies of legal obligation to review and update REACH registration dossiers ‘when new information becomes available’