Topics
plastics
April 28, 2020
Pandemic causing delays in advancing extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation across US states; increased demand for single-use packaging and plastic bags in Thailand hinders earlier efforts
Reading time: 4 minutes
April 23, 2020
Investigative journalist examines the economy and community impacts of plastic waste in Africa; provides overview of recent global regulatory discussions to manage plastic pollution, potential systematic decline of the plastics industry sector
Reading time: 3 minutes
April 21, 2020
Industry association request to delay pending restrictions denied by European Commission; member states still expected to implement directive into national laws by original deadline
Reading time: 2 minutes
April 15, 2020
2020 edition of packaging industry event centers almost exclusively around issues of plastic pollution and recycling; next year’s conference to take place on February 8-10, 2021
Reading time: 2 minutes
April 1, 2020
Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV publish study investigating sources of odors present in recycled low density polyethylene (LDPE); demonstrate reduction of odors through separated collection from household waste, washing at 60 degrees Celsius
Reading time: 1 minute
March 30, 2020
Researchers from Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research identify Pseudomonas bacterium able to break down polyurethane monomer and oligomer; bacterium uses plastic as energy source to fuel process; researchers caution that industrial application still a decade away, focus should remain on preventing plastic pollution
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 27, 2020
European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals (ECETOC) publishes report examining applicability of standard tools, test methods, and models for polymer risk assessment; describes identified technical limitations, gives recommendations for improving test guidelines
Topics: plastics, risk assessment
Reading time: 1 minute
March 27, 2020
American Chemistry Council (ACC) proposes principles for applying mass balance approach in plastics recycling; includes traceability across supply chain and third-party auditing to verify product claims
Reading time: 1 minute
March 26, 2020
Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) releases first progress report towards 2025 goals; provides data from 27 signatories on recycling potential and use of recycled plastics to serve as baseline; data still lacking on reuse, sorting, and quantity of hazardous substances in plastics
Reading time: 1 minute
March 23, 2020
European Academies' Science Advisory Council provides seven recommendations to EU policymakers for transitioning to circular economy; include banning plastic waste exports, extending producer responsibility, ‘end misleading about bio-based alternatives’, limiting additives and resins
Reading time: 2 minutes
