European Plastic Converters Association holds Food Contact Plastics Seminar on April 19-20, 2018 in Brussels
News Article
March 6, 2018
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December 13, 2016
EEB conference 2016 report
European Environmental Bureau publishes proceedings of its 2016 annual conference; sessions addressed policy needs in circular economy and sustainability, climate and energy, and biodiversity
News Article
September 25, 2020
Report critically reviews brands’ plastics commitments
New report by the Changing Markets Foundation investigates commitments on plastic packaging made by largest food and consumer goods companies; criticizes consistently failed promises, sees voluntary initiatives as tactics to distract from and avoid responsibility
News Article
January 18, 2022
Several studies determine chemical migration from food packaging
Researchers from several European and Chinese institutions develop methods to explore chemicals in food contact materials (FCMs); report styrene migration from different polystyrene FCMs into several food matrices; detect photoinitiators in paper FCMs and chlorinated paraffins in green tea and its packaging; find irradiation treatment of metalized polypropylene to reduce migration of tested chemicals
News Article
March 15, 2023
Studies detect microplastics in food and link it to packaging, processing equipment
Several articles published since the beginning of 2023 have analyzed plastic particles in packaged foods and beverages, including salt, sugar, canned fish, bottled water, soft drinks, and cold tea; draw a connection to packaging and food processing; migration studies demonstrate particle release from plastic food containers and breastmilk storage bags; review develops 10 criteria for data quality assessment and find most studies “unreliable” on one or more criteria
News Article
February 1, 2022
FCM regulatory and waste management updates from South and Southeast Asia
Malaysia proposes revision of allowable uses for eleven chemicals, including seven used in food contact material (FCM) applications; Vietnam’s revised Law on Environmental Protection comes into effect, launches nationwide extended producer responsibility scheme for domestic producers and importers; Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives publishes report that chemical recycling plant in Indonesia, launched by Unilever in 2017, was “secretly shuttered” after two years; Sri Lanka proposes plastic pellets be classified as dangerous goods during maritime shipping
News Article
April 14, 2020
Market report forecasts food packaging growth through 2025
Report by research firm Markets and Markets focuses on “eco-friendly food packaging”; expects paper and paperboard packaging to post significant growth through 2025 with Asia-Pacific region to see largest increase; growth catalyzed by stringent regulations and shift in consumer preferences
News Article
June 25, 2024
Japan preparing food contact material regulation for June 2025 enforcement deadline
Japan finalizes structure of positive list for synthetic polymer containing utensils, containers, and packaging for food contact; lists 21 approved polymer types and 827 approved additives; consultation on additional additives ongoing; positive list system must be fully implemented by manufacturers by June 2025
News Article
May 19, 2017
BPA and PVC in U.S. food can coatings
New survey of food cans purchased from 4 U.S. retailers finds 33-52% to still contain bisphenol A, 17-25% contain polyvinylchloride; NGOs call on retailers and food brands to remove BPA and ensure safety of alternatives
News Article
February 23, 2017
EFSA study: Bioaccumulation and toxicity of mineral oils
New EFSA scientific study tests different mixtures of mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH), relevant to human diet, in rats; bioaccumulation at low dose MOSH exposure in humans possibly underestimated; MOSH appear persistent in adipose tissue
