Topics

plastics

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
Topics:
Reading time: 2 minutes

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
Reading time: 3 minutes

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
Reading time: 5 minutes

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
Reading time: 2 minutes

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
Reading time: 1 minute

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
Reading time: 3 minutes

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
Topics: ,
Reading time: 2 minutes

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
Reading time: 2 minutes

January 29, 2020

Improving material sorting through fluorescent markers

Nextek develops marker for plastic food packaging labels to improve separation from non-food packaging during recycling; achieves 96% purity and meets EU requirements
Reading time: 1 minute

January 28, 2020

Survey quantifies consumer perceptions by packaging types

2019 EcoFocus Trends Survey finds consumers perceive glass and paper-based packaging as most healthy and eco-friendly, 64% of millennials willing to pay for eco-friendly products
Reading time: 1 minute
Scroll to Top