Four recent studies explore how to switch to reusable packaging; concerns related to hygiene and return logistics are barriers identified by all studies; cultural and socio-economic factors, the food items, and the setting play major role in the successful rollout; consumer desirability, business viability, sustainability, and technical feasibility are interlocked, and their combined analysis can support the roll-out of reuse systems
July 29, 2024
Japan publishes guidelines on chemical management for circular economy
Japan’s Joint Article Management Promotion-consortium gives guidelines on ensuring safe recycled materials; provides considerations for recycling process for various materials to avoid chemical contamination; urges for transparency about substances used in the supply chain
April 19, 2024
Plastics Treaty should align circular economy goals with waste hierarchy, scientists say
Letter in Science by 13 members of the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty calls for UN Plastic Treaty negotiators to integrate circular economy goal with waste hierarchy principles to encourage sustainable long-term solutions to end plastic pollution
April 3, 2024
Report assesses state of transition to circular economy in Europe
European Environment Agency finds transition to circular economy in Europe is lacking in various areas; calls for fundamental change in consumption and resource usage; predicts low likelihood of reaching 2030 targets
July 17, 2023
Report presents model for sustainable & circular PET system
Systemiq presents a circular economy blueprint for PET; suggests pathway to reducing landfill and incineration by 70% and greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2040; would require expansion of reuse systems, scaling of recycling infrastructure, and clear regulations; chemical safety of recycled PET remains unclear
June 29, 2023
Report highlights needs for reuse systems, consumer demand grows
Report by City to Sea presents requirements for implementing reuse systems in UK; says majority of consumers are receptive to using reusable packaging; Chartered Institution of Waste Management urges UK to take the lead in establishing reuse systems for a circular economy
January 11, 2023
Plastic recycling: company commitments and chemical safety challenges
Scientists report most large companies commit to reducing plastic pollution but focus on recycling; extrusion of recycled materials and legacy compounds in recycled materials as safety challenge; some substances increase others decrease with the increase in recycled content in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles; tentatively identify 212 volatile chemicals in 57 different recycled PET flakes available in China; present migration model to characterize the exposure and risk of PET oligomers
December 12, 2022
Novelties of bioplastics: EC’s policy framework and industry updates
European Commission (EC) publishes policy framework on bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable plastics; aims to guide policy, industry, and public; “bioplastics” should not distract from circular economy principles prioritizing reduction, reuse, recycling; 17th annual European Bioplastics conference gives insights into recent bioplastics’ developments; bioplastics production capacities projected to almost triple by 2027
November 10, 2022
Corporate plastic commitments not expected to meet 2025 targets
Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF) reports progress, or lack thereof, on corporate packaging commitments set for 2025; plastic pact signatories increased portfolio of recycled, recyclable, or compostable products by 2% between 2019 and 2021; reuse decreased, and virgin plastic use increased; EMF calling for stronger governmental action and support of UN plastic pollution treaty
July 21, 2022
Plastics in a circular economy: research status, environmental leakage, food safety hazards
Recent studies perform semi-systematic review of published circular economy literature focusing on plastics over past 21 years, develop framework for plastics in circular economy; find Dutch food packaging plastic waste polluting oceans, question effectiveness of recycling; summarize chemical and microbial hazards related to circular food production systems
