Report cautions current regulatory approaches focused on plastics, instead encourages improving careful management of all materials; calls for urgent review of food contact materials, implementation of fiscal measures to reduce use across material types
March 13, 2020
UK moves ahead with plastic packaging tax
Government announces tax on plastic packaging with less than 30% recycled content beginning April 2022; £200 per metric ton set to be charged, exemptions will exist for small quantities
March 4, 2020
Quantifying the clean-up costs of ocean plastics
Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates $150 billion investment needed to address ocean plastic pollution, says solutions are in redesigning products upstream; Pew Charitable Trust to release report detailing cost estimates, launches initiative to find effective strategies
March 2, 2020
EFSA working group updates in January and February 2020
Minutes from recent meetings of the EFSA CEP panel and working groups on BPA, FCMs, and recycling plastics published
February 27, 2020
EC meeting discusses future FCM regulation
European Commission (EC) holds meeting reviewing draft regulatory texts for 15th and 16th amendment of plastics regulation 10/2011 and for plastic food contact materials (FCMs) recycling regulation; contemplates regulatory options for novel FCMs including plastics with bamboo fibers; presents specific updates and timelines for future work
February 27, 2020
Concerns over recycled ocean-bound plastic packaging
UK branch of supermarket chain Lidl announces new packaging for fish made from at least 30% recycled ocean-bound plastic from March 2020; stakeholders raise concerns over safety of chemicals that could be present
February 24, 2020
Thailand considers use of recycled plastic FCMs
Food and Drug Administration publishes survey to collect information on chemicals used in virgin polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) production; results to inform updating regulation, responses due by April 10, 2020
February 19, 2020
Stakeholders criticize labeling, terminology of plastic packaging
Greenpeace report finds only 53% of all US material recovery facilities accept polypropylene products, argues they should therefore not be labeled and marketed to consumers as recyclable; bottled water association advocates against the term ‘single-use,’ concerned it confuses consumers and limits recycling
February 18, 2020
The Guardian discusses plastic food container safety
Article introduces recent research quantifying chemicals that could be present in packaging, testing chemical toxicity; emphasizes chemical unknowns, recommends tips for consumers to minimize chemical and plastic particle exposure
February 13, 2020
Debut of ‘Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act’ in U.S.
U.S. senators and representatives present wide-ranging bill to address plastic pollution; aims to extend producer responsibility, implement nationwide container refund system, phase out single-use plastic items, increase minimum recycled content
