European Commission launches new research partnership, first call for research into bio-based materials
BPA impedes cell signaling
Authors of new study consider BPA harmful in plastics, but possibly useful for tumor treatment
EU legislation on waste
Council of the European Union and EU Parliament provisionally agree on EU Commission’s proposals for revision of EU waste legislation; introduce new binding targets for packaging waste recycling, define requirements for extended producer responsibility
United States creating national plastic pollution strategy
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes draft national strategy to prevent plastic pollution; outlines goals to reduce pollution during plastic production, improve recycling/reuse, and remove microplastics from waterways
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
Report questions viability and environmental benefits of plastic chemical recycling
Report commissioned by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) reviews chemical recycling of plastic waste; finds the technical feasibility, environmental benefits, and economic viability of the technology are not sufficiently demonstrated; excessive subsidies or investments may lock-in environmentally unfavorable processes and infrastructure
Slovenian study finds BPA to affect sperm quality
New study finds BPA to affect sperm quality in couples seeking in vitro fertilization; findings not statistically significant
Global plastic waste management and emissions
Using data from over 50,000 municipalities, with machine learning to fill gaps, global model estimates 52 million tons of plastic were released into unmanaged waste systems in 2020; report led by Arnika investigates effects of waste incineration on the environment and human health
Swiss capital replaces mineral water with tap water
Bern announced to make more tap water available at municipal events, the Swiss mineral water association criticizes the advice
Studies detect microplastics in bottled and outdoor drinking water
Researchers analyzed microplastics presence in drinking waters; report 7 out of 9 best-selling bottled mineral waters in France contain microplastics; find widespread microplastics contamination of free drinking water refill kiosks across Mexico City