European Parliament approves report calling for European Commission to adopt binding targets and expanded EcoDesign Directive within Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP), aims to reduce overall consumption and material use; proposes solutions to problems of higher prices for recycled materials and low availably of high-quality recycled materials
Most chemicals remain untested
Report by the Center for Effective Government reveals that less than 1% of chemicals on the U.S. market are tested for safety
U.S. objects to plastic waste trade agreements
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sends letter objecting to adoption of plastic waste trade regulations between OECD member states, against recent Basel Convention amendments
JRC report on nanomaterial identification
European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) publishes report with guidance on measurement techniques to identify nanomaterials under the EU definition; includes practical examples and flowchart to support analysis
US action plan to prevent infertility
US government agency publishes action plan to prevent infertility; aims to reduce exposure to EDCs
AOP-based computational models for regulatory toxicology
Review article by EU Commission’s Joint Research Centre and collaborators discusses development and use of computational prediction models for regulatory toxicology and how it can be supported by the Adverse Outcome Pathways framework
More eco-friendly takeaway containers
Bangkok Post informs about a community campaign encouraging food vendors in Bangkok to use bio-based, biodegradable food containers instead of styrofoam and other plastic packaging
UK to stick with EU FCM legislation
UK will adopt EU FCM framework regulation and material-specific regulations after leaving EU; situation for non-harmonized FCMs under debate
Opinion: Plastic packaging should be simplified
Cradle to Cradle scientist Michael Braungart calls for fewer and simplified polymers to create material cycles rather than waste
Nature: scientists claim effects at very low dose, regulators are not yet convinced
Researchers are discovering low-dose effects of endocrine disruptors since the seventies yet the issue remains a controversy and chemical regulation remains to be modified