Non-governmental organization European Environmental Bureau (EEB) publishes position paper setting 8 priorities for upcoming EU Chemical Strategy for Sustainability; calls for revision of food contact materials legislation, creation of chemical substitution forums and technical support centers for small and medium sized businesses, ‘polluter pays’ tax
BFFP: 13 key investments to combat plastic pollution
Break Free From Plastic (BFFP) recommends 13 key investments for US federal action; includes funding for multi re-use facility infrastructure, Environmental Protection Agency , research, government, and educational institutions; discourages further investments in chemical recycling, waste-to-energy/fuel technologies, carbon sequestration, downcycling, production, distribution and export of plastics
US considers new chemical recycling legislation
US states Oklahoma and Arizona pass bills to support chemical recycling facilities; at the same time, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers whether to include chemical recycling in national recycling calculations
Chitosan-GFSE food packaging
Scientists use grapefruit seed extract to fortify natural chitosan-based composite film; newly created food packaging material, free from chemical additives, doubles the shelf-life of perishables by slowing fungal growth
Opinion: Pregnant women may cut fresh food to avoid chemicals
Guidance document for pregnant women receives criticism from Times columnist
Madrid Statement on PFASs
Scientists reach consensus regarding the persistence and potential for harm of PFASs
Key characteristics for identifying hazardous chemicals
Martyn Smith from UC Berkeley presents on the development of sets of key characteristics to help identify hazardous chemicals; international working group of experts focuses on carcinogens, male and female reproductive toxicants, expanding work on other toxicants
IdentiPlast 2019 conference
Conference on recycling and recovery of plastics brings together 340 participants from across plastics supply chain and public authorities; discussions focus on technical aspects of improving plastic waste management
“New” endocrine disruptors identified
Danish researchers produce list of 9 “new” endocrine disrupting chemicals identified according to EU EDC criteria; some substances relevant for food contact
EU wants ban on perfluorooctanoic acid
EU works towards listing perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in Annex A of the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants (POPs)