German Gesellschaft für Verpackungsmarktforschung finding paper composite packaging use will increase until 2025, uses 40% more material; paper composites cause more packaging waste, cause problems for recycling, replace hardly or non-recyclable or hardly recyclable plastic packaging, compete with improvement of plastic recycling; may be harmful to circular economy (in German)
Restaurant review site now includes packaging as search filter
The restaurant review and search site Yelp now includes search filters for packaging; when searching for a restaurant, customers can filter for reusable tableware, plastic-free packaging, accepting of bring-your-own containers; restaurant owners can update the settings, customers can suggest changes to Yelp
New consumer information portal on chemicals
ECHA launches website to inform consumers about benefits and risks of chemicals
Repercussions of PFOA at Teflon production site
Article discusses history of PFOA, focusing on environmental and public health effects, legal consequences and regulatory implications
Opinion: FDA ‘rushing to judgement’ on BPA
Article in Environmental Health News discusses main goal of CLARITY-BPA program and U.S. FDA’s premature conclusions on BPA hazards
Canada Plastics Pact develops packaging design rules
Canada Plastics Pact publishes nine golden design rules for plastic packaging manufacturers; include using a single material per package, avoiding polyvinyl chloride (PVC), reducing headspace , and switching to reuse systems; more than 30 Canadian companies have already signed onto 50% or more of the rules
Call for EU rules on paper packaging
European study finds paper packaging can release primary aromatic amines, UV filters; European consumer organization BEUC calls for ‘strict’ EU-wide laws to ensure safety of food contact paper and board
Industry coalition backs FDA’s GRAS rule
Safe Food Ingredients Coalition advocates for court judgement supporting U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s food additive notification process; responses from plaintiffs due August 23, 2019
European Council supports harmonized FCM rules
EU body publishes conclusions on Farm to Fork Strategy; calls for developing harmonized rules for additional food contact material (FCM) types and an EU-wide requirement for declarations of compliance for all materials
EU considers new calculation rules
New calculation methodology for recycling under discussion by EU; could impact actual recycling rates in meeting set 2030 targets