In an article published on September 23, 2016, the news provider Plasteurope informs that Swedish company Perstorp has launched its product “Akestra” (CAS 102070-64-4) on the European market. “Akestra” is a thermoplastic copolyester that has a glass-like transparent appearance and high heat resistance. According to Perstorp, “Akestra” constitutes a “sparkling alternative” to polycarbonate, polystyrene and glass, particularly for use as a disposable packaging for serving hot foods and beverages. The products made of this copolymer material can be manufactured directly on the existing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) production lines without major reconstruction. Moreover, “Akestra” can be combined with up to 80% of recycled PET as a means of increasing the PET’s performance.
On October 20, 2014 the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a positive Scientific Opinion on the safety of the monomer of the “Akestra” polymer, 2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro[5.5]undecane-3,9-diethanol, β3,β3,β9,β9-tetramethyl-, also known as spiroglycol (SPG, CAS 1455-42-1) (FPF reported). In the 6th amendment to EU regulation No 10/2011 on plastic food contact materials (FCMs) that came into force on September 14, 2016 (FPF reported), this substance was added to the Union list of authorized substances (FCM substance No 1052) with a specific migration limit of 5 mg/kg food. A further provision with regard to migration from this polymer set a migration limit of 50 µg/kg food for the fraction of low molecular weight oligomers below 1000 Da.
Since 2012, SPG is also listed in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substance Notifications for use in food contact materials in the U.S., and it is registered as food contact material in Japan.
Read more
Plasteurope (September 23, 2016). “PERSTORP Food-contact plastic launched in Europe / Enhanced heat-resistance and transparency versus PET.”
Malin Johansson (September 14, 2016). “Perstorp’s AkestraTM compliant for food-contact use in EU.” Perstorp
EFSA (October 20, 2014). “Scientific Opinion on the safety assessment of the substance, 2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro[5.5]undecane-3,9-diethanol, β3,β3,β9,β9-tetramethyl-, CAS No 1455-42-1, for use in food contact materials.” EFSA Journal 12(10):3863.
