Topics
California
June 10, 2026
California law to only allow recyclability labels on packaging if > 60% of the population has access to suitable recycling facilities goes into effect October 2026; packaging and food industry suing that law is a violation of company free speech
Reading time: 2 minutes
November 5, 2025
In 2023, the EU generated a total of 79.7 million tonnes of packaging waste; equates to 177.8 kg per person; of which 120.0 kg were recycled; California estimates 8.5 million tonnes of single-use packaging waste in landfills; most waste in EU and California made up of paper and plastic
Reading time: 2 minutes
October 29, 2025
India issues a draft regulation proposing the ban of PFAS in the manufacture of food contact materials (FCMs); also, FCMs made with polycarbonate or epoxy resins must be BPA-free; effective December 10, 2025; California requests information on p,p’-bisphenols for possible listing in Proposition 65 as toxic to reproduction; includes most common bisphenols in food packaging production; submissions open until December 1, 2025
Reading time: 2 minutes
September 17, 2025
California lawmakers approve bill to ban PFAS in food packaging by 2028, cookware by 2030; Governor Gavin Newsom expected to sign by October 12
Topics: California, PFAS
Reading time: 2 minutes
July 11, 2025
About one third of US states have taken regulatory action pertaining to food contact chemicals, materials, and/or articles in 2025; predominantly (i) phase-outs of PFAS in packaging and cookware, (ii) bans on polystyrene foam and other single-use food-service plastics, and (iii) extended-producer-responsibility (EPR) bills covering packaging
Reading time: 9 minutes
May 10, 2023
California Department of Toxic Substances Control proposes adding microplastics to its Candidate Chemicals List under the state's Safer Consumer Products Program due to potential harmful impacts on human health and the environment; workshops for the public scheduled for June and July.
Topics: California, microplastics
Reading time: 0 minutes
February 20, 2023
California State Policy Evidence Consortium and DG Environment publish reports on the abundance, health effects and (potential) regulations on microplastics and nanoplastics, respectively; first finds most regulations come from California or EU and concern banning microbeads or mandating more research; second argues against a lower size cutoff of nanoplastics since the smaller the plastic particles, the more likely they can cross biological membranes
Reading time: 4 minutes
July 5, 2022
Plastic pollution prevention and packaging producer responsibility act requires all packaging in California be recyclable or compostable by 2032; plastic packaging production be reduced by 25%, and 65% of packaging be recycled after use
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 18, 2022
California Ocean Protection Council (COPC) publishes unanimously-approved roadmap for state microplastics policy; includes 22 possible immediate actions to limit microplastics based on current knowledge and a 13-point research strategy to inform later actions; German government publishes report on the state of knowledge of microplastics pollution and options for action
Reading time: 3 minutes
March 17, 2022
New York Governor Kathy Hochul proposes limiting PFAS, heavy metals, and phthalates in all packaging to 100 ppm by weight by 2024; also urges extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging; at least six other states considering packaging EPR legislation; state-owned or contracted foodservice facilities in California must now use food packaging that is reusable, recyclable, or compostable
Reading time: 3 minutes
