Scientific study characterizes chemicals contained in 210 consumer products made of recycled or virgin material regarding identity, functional use, structural class, and origin and prioritizes chemicals; 65% of chemicals with greater concentrations in recycled materials, along with a higher number of flame retardants, biocides, dyes, and fragrances in recycled materials
Impact of labels, inks and glues on PET recycling
Industry study shows negative effects of incompatible label materials, glues, and inks on the recyclability of PET drinking bottles; impacts on color and clarity of recycled PET
US military, European Commission planning action on PFAS
Bipartisan bill in US Congress aims to prohibit military purchase of food service ware and food packaging containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); draft set of action points for European Commission chemicals strategy reported to restrict all non-essential uses of PFAS
Researchers report NIAS migration from baby food pouches
Study performs migration testing on 79 plastic baby food pouches; finds four bisphenols, five phthalic acid diesters in targeted analysis and 26 more in suspect screening including 23 non-intentionally added substances (NIAS); NIAS adipic acid – diethylene glycol exceeds the threshold of toxicological concern in 40% of the pouches
2023 FPF Workshop: Goals and policy processes for safe and sustainable FCMs
On the morning of the Food Packaging Forum’s 11th annual workshop, speakers share processes to measure sustainable food packaging while accounting for multiple concerns; three speakers share findings from developing frameworks to make packaging safer, account for tradeoffs, and reduce plastic packaging use; three speakers share how policy is developed at the United Nations and European Union
Recycling food-grade plastics in the EU
Recycling Today reports on the challenges of supplying food-grade recycled plastics even as commitments increase; European Commission registers Citizens’ Initiative to create plastic bottle deposit and extended producer responsibility system in EU; World Wildlife Fund Germany investigates packaging system to find ways to increase circularity, encourages reuse over recycling
FDA study finds PFAS in grocery store foods
Study presented by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration finds high levels of PFAS in some grocery store products, focus placed on sampling dairy farm near Air Force base and produce sold near PFAS production plant
Chemical footprinting: 2017 annual report
Chemical Footprint Project publishes second annual report; measuring companies’ chemical footprint gaining importance; data for benchmarking and progress analysis now available
IKEA recalls travel mug for containing DBP
International retailer issues recall for all “Troligtvis” travel mugs made in India; recent testing finds levels of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) that exceed company’s set limits; phthalates have been prohibited in all IKEA food contact articles for years
New study identifies candidates for hormonal activity in bottled waters
Antiestrogenic substance di(2-ethylhexyl) fumarate identified in retail samples, origin of contamination remains unclear