US Plastics Pact launched

Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Plastics Pact network expands to include US Plastics Pact collaborative with over 60 signatories

Plastics Circularity Multiplier online conference

Plastics Circularity Multiplier conference presenting Horizon 2020-funded circular economy projects to take place online on October 14-16, 2020; webinars free of charge, additional registration to open soon

Growing demand for mono-material packaging

Report by Smithers predicts compound annual growth rate of 3.8% for mono-material plastic packaging films on global market; sees fast growth for polyethylene and polypropylene, slow growth for regenerated cellulose fiber, decline for polyvinyl chloride materials

Recent innovations in packaging

Companies present paper-based packaging for alcoholic beverages, multipack cans; new designs and materials for better recyclability; more products reported to use 100% recycled plastics

Properties of rPET-containing bottles

Scientists examine effects of recycled PET (rPET) on bottles’ properties, propose generic model to calculate acceptable rPET content for different scenarios; bottles from mono-collection systems have less particle contamination, more favorable optical properties, lower accumulation of contaminants, and therefore recommended to allow higher recycled content

UK announces approach for circular economy package

Adopts most of the text previously agreed while EU member; outlines small technical changes from Waste Framework Directive, confirms intention to continue transition towards a circular economy

GAIA report: ‘All talk and no recycling’

Global Initiative for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) report investigates chemical recycling projects in the US; advocates against plastic-to-fuel processes, rejects use of term ‘chemical recycling’ to describe them; American Chemistry Council (ACC) statement defends technology’s potential

EU could apply tax on non-recycled plastic packaging waste

European Council agrees €0.80 tax per kilogram on non-recycled plastic packaging waste starting January 1, 2021; exact law still needs to be developed and then approved by European Parliament and Council of the EU

EFSA working group updates in May, June, and July 2020

Minutes from recent meetings of the EFSA CEP panel and working groups on BPA, FCMs, and recycling plastics published; scientific opinions on benzophenone‐3,3′,4,4′‐tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BDTA), multiple recycling processes published

Report grades companies on responses to plastic pollution

Shareholder advocacy group As You Sow evaluates 50 largest US consumer-facing companies on their responses to address plastic pollution crisis; finds most companies too slow in adopting actions to prioritize packaging reduction and to promote reusability, recyclability, compostability; outlines key recommendations