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
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
FDA sued over perchlorate petition rejection
Six U.S. NGOs file lawsuit against U.S. Food and Drug Administration over denial of earlier petition to ban perchlorate in FCMs; accuse FDA of ‘not protecting our health,’ call for petition reassessment
ECHA: Proposal for authorization of 11 SVHCs
ECHA recommends 11 SVHCs for inclusion in REACH Authorization List; substances listed in FCM inventories among candidates; public consultation open until February 18, 2016
EU assesses chemicals of potential concern
European Member States assess risk management options for BPA and other substances relevant for food contact materials
ECHA 2015 REACH evaluation report
ECHA reports on evaluation activities in 2015; finds data gaps for the majority of evaluated substances of high concern; encourages registrants to update their dossiers
Washington state identifies priority products
State’s Department of Ecology (DoE) publishes priority consumer products report for legislature, prioritizes bisphenols used in food and drink linings
Scientists detect microplastics in amniotic fluid, effects on testicular aging
Two studies investigate microplastic presence or effects in female and male reproductive organs; small cohort study finds low number of microplastics to be present in human amniotic fluid besides the placenta; in vitro and mice in vivo study reports microplastics induce premature testicular aging and identifies underlying pathways
COVID-19 challenging EPR and single-use legislation
Pandemic causing delays in advancing extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation across US states; increased demand for single-use packaging and plastic bags in Thailand hinders earlier efforts
NIAS migration from plastic wine corks
Scientific study uses non-targeted chemical analysis to provide an overview of chemicals migrating from 8 wine corks made of ethylene-vinyl acetate; identifies 50 compounds, 84% non-intentionally added substances (NIAS); finds one cork not suitable as food contact material