Scientists find one-fifth of brominated flame retardants’ content in recycling streams is transferred to new products; discuss trade-offs between consumer safety and resource efficiency; European officials maintain toxics can be managed within the circular economy
Study detects PFAS across US fast food restaurant packaging
Mind the Store campaign and Toxic-Free Future collect and test 29 food packaging samples from 6 US fast food chains for fluorine levels; find that burger wrappers and containers from McDonald’s and Burger King likely treated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); paper bags used for French fries and deserts have consistently high fluorine levels
Tox21 Update
Environmental Health Perspectives reports on Tox21 advances, issues from Phase I to be resolved in Phase II
The role of chemicals in the circular economy
Article explains principles of circular economy and highlights problem of increased chemical exposure
8th revision of GHS published
UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) publishes printed version of 8th revision of the Globally Harmonized System of classification and labelling of chemicals (GHS); electronic version and additional languages to be released in coming months
Launch of Plant Based Products Council
New industry council aims to encourage plant-based products, hosts products database containing food packaging alternatives
Wrap: packaging encourages household food waste
UK civil society organization Wrap finds selling produce without plastic packaging and date labels would save 100,000 tons food and 10,300 tons plastic in UK yearly; fruits and vegetables studied have the same shelf life without packaging; packaging sizes encourage overconsumption; date labeling encourages early disposal; Foodwatch petitions German government to ban plastic packaging for produce by 2026
BPA and BADGE in coconut milk cans
Five Nordic consumer organizations find BPA and BADGE in coating lacquer of coconut milk cans, but BPF and BPS were not detected
EU SVHC-checking app available in 15 countries
App enables consumers to request information from providers on presence of substances of very high concern; launched in 15 EU countries
Action and inaction on PFAS in the US federal government
Earthjustice files petition asking US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to revoke approval of 600 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) allowed on the market under exemptions of the Toxic Substances Control Act; represents about half the number of PFAS on the market; EPA extends reach of guidelines for federal purchasing of PFAS-free products; Food and Drug Administration funding bill stripped of reform amendments including federal ban on PFAS in food packaging