EU Parliament debates directive on reducing marine litter from plastics, including restrictions for specific single-use plastic products; final vote scheduled for October 24, 2018
October 18, 2018
Microplastics in food-grade salts
New study finds microplastics in 90% of tested salt brands worldwide; microplastic contamination of sea salts correlates with plastic pollution in surrounding seawater
October 18, 2018
CEP Panel: 2nd plenary meeting
EFSA’s CEP Panel held 2nd plenary meeting on September 26-27, 2018; new food contact substances, PET recycling processes, evaluation of FCM legislation, updated risk assessment for phthalates discussed
October 17, 2018
Toxic chemicals in recycled plastics products
New study by environmental health organizations finds brominated flame retardants in children’s food contact articles and other products made of recycled plastics; call against recycling of hazardous waste
October 15, 2018
Clean Oceans Initiative
European Investment Bank and two other financial institutions launch Clean Oceans Initiative offering long-term financial support to projects aimed at waste recycling and waste prevention
October 12, 2018
Opinion: Loopholes in proposed EU laws for single-use plastics
Rethink Plastic alliance of NGOs warns that definition of single-use items is ‘too narrow,’ allowing to avoid bans or reduction measures by marketing them as reusable; NGOs deliver petition to EU Parliament ahead of vote on single-use plastics regulation on October 22, 2018
October 12, 2018
ENVI adopts EU bans on single-use plastics
EU Parliament’s Environment and Public Health Committee adopts draft EU directive on polluting single-use plastics and marine litter; European Parliament (EP) publishes key facts about plastic in the oceans, informs about the impact of litter and actions for reduction
October 10, 2018
Brand audits identify top polluters
Report by Greenpeace and Break Free From Plastic names 10 global companies whose products appear to be the biggest contributors to plastic pollution worldwide based on findings from beach cleanups and brand audits
October 5, 2018
Opinion: Plastic recycling a ‘false promise’
Engineer estimates U.S. plastic recycling rate below 5% in 2018, calls for ‘real solutions’ to plastic pollution such as reduced production of single-use plastics, implementation of deposit schemes
October 2, 2018
Draft regulation for plastic FCMs in Latin America
Argentina notifies World Trade Organization of proposed revisions to Mercosur regulation on plastics and polymeric coatings for food contact; comments accepted until November 4, 2018
