Topics
circular economy
April 19, 2024
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
Reading time: 1 minute
April 3, 2024
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
Topics: circular economy, EU
Reading time: 1 minute
July 17, 2023
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
Reading time: 2 minutes
June 29, 2023
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
Reading time: 2 minutes
January 11, 2023
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
Reading time: 8 minutes
December 12, 2022
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
Reading time: 5 minutes
November 10, 2022
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
Reading time: 2 minutes
July 21, 2022
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
Reading time: 7 minutes
June 1, 2022
Taiwan Food and Drug Administration publishes application and certification process for processing recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) for food contact; review process similar to those in the US and EU; manufacturers must demonstrate recycled pellets comply with either US or EU safety regulations
Reading time: 1 minute
May 4, 2022
Five new circular economy laws coming into force in Luxembourg over the next few years; laws ban many single use consumer products, plastic packaging for produce under 1.5kg; Supermarkets with more than 400 square meters of floor space must make space for collecting used packaging; reusables will be mandatory for in store eating and take away
Reading time: 0 minutes
