Topics
plastics
May 30, 2022
Changing Markets Foundation and Break Free From Plastic investigate plastic pollution related actions made by 74 of the largest European supermarkets; Total average score of retailers was just 13/100, only Aldi UK and Aldi Ireland scored above 60; over 80% of companies had no information on total plastic use which “casts doubt” over plastic reduction pledges because there is no baseline data
Reading time: 2 minutes
May 13, 2022
Letter in Science argues capping virgin plastic production is the only way to address the plastic waste problem; even by changing to other materials, recycling, better waste management, etc. “annual plastic emissions to the environment can only be cut by 79% over 20 years”
Topics: plastics
Reading time: 0 minutes
April 28, 2022
Scientists investigate plastic particles released from store-bought food packaging as well as human and mice health impacts of exposure; report single-use plastic products release >1012 nano-sized particles during use; find microplastics to suppress lysosomal activity in mouse macrophages; first detection of microplastics within human lung tissue samples; in vitro neurotoxicity study finds microplastics negatively impact human forebrain organoid development
Reading time: 6 minutes
April 27, 2022
Sustainable Packaging Coalition publishes guidance for converting to refillable or returnable packaging systems; CHEM Forward releases tool to help identify safer additives to use in plastic packaging
Reading time: 3 minutes
April 21, 2022
Canada Plastics Pact publishes nine golden design rules for plastic packaging manufacturers; include using a single material per package, avoiding polyvinyl chloride (PVC), reducing headspace , and switching to reuse systems; more than 30 Canadian companies have already signed onto 50% or more of the rules
Reading time: 0 minutes
April 19, 2022
The Thai Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation bans styrofoam packaging and single-use plastics from all 155 national parks in the country; those caught with single-use food containers, cups, or utensils could face a fine up to 100,000 baht ($3,000 USD); Elephants and other animals reportedly eating plastics in national park north of Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok)
Reading time: 0 minutes
April 15, 2022
Shipping company CMA GCM announces it will no longer accept plastic scrap on board its container ships starting April 15, 2022; being implemented six weeks earlier than originally announced during One Ocean Summit in February 2022; meant to reduce waste exports to where “recycling or recovery cannot be assured"
Reading time: 0 minutes
April 14, 2022
Scientists develop collisions cross section (CCS) database for leachable and extractable food contact chemicals (FCCs) to help in chemical identification during targeted and untargeted analysis; database covers 1038 CCS values; study tentatively identifies >100 migrants from 24 plastic food packaging articles including 11 that are of potential concern or are priority hazardous substances
Reading time: 5 minutes
April 11, 2022
Review provides understanding of how knowledge gaps on long-term plastic particle fate affect life-cycle assessments (LCAs) and distort policy decisions; exemplifies discussion comparing a fossil-based with a biodegradable plastic; highlights importance of covering plastic particle impacts and its unknowns transparently in LCAs to allow reliable material comparisons and responsible decision making
Reading time: 4 minutes
March 31, 2022
Reporters from Bloomberg track three pieces of flexible plastic after they were placed in British grocery store recycling bins; some flexible plastics are recyclable, but others may end up burned for energy; one product ended up in Poland, likely burned in a cement factory; another in a Turkish facility where recycling is questionable
Reading time: 0 minutes
