Prof. Scheringer’s slides Prof. Collins’ slides
On March 18, 2021, from 17:00 to 18:00 CET, the Food Packaging Forum held the first webinar within its Spring 2021 series titled “Putting the EU Chemical Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) into action: Challenges and opportunities for Food Contact Materials (FCMs).” This first webinar set the scene for understanding how the CSS provides opportunities for improving FCMs as well as the challenges that might need to be overcome.
It featured two presentations from Prof. Martin Scheringer of ETH Zürich and Masaryk University and from Prof. Terry Collins of Carnegie Mellon University. Prof. Scheringer’s talk addressed “Hazardous Chemicals – An overview and focus on how the CSS addresses the issue”, and Prof. Collins presented on “Safe and Sustainable Chemistry – A history and recommendations for implementing the CSS”. The presentations were followed by an open discussion session with the audience, including the opportunity to ask questions. The full recording of the webinar is shown above.
About this Webinar Series
Chemicals undeniably have enabled societal prosperity and wellbeing. At the same time, the production and use of chemicals come at an environmental and societal cost. For current and future generations to continue benefiting from the safe and sustainable use of chemicals, the European Commission recently launched its Chemical Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) which is part of the EU’s overarching Green Deal action plan (FPF reported). The CSS provides the framework for development in the right direction, but ultimately, its effectiveness will depend on implementation in new or revised EU regulations. And the EU food contact materials (FCMs) regulation that is currently being revised will be the first testing ground for putting the CSS into action. Therefore, the Food Packaging Forum is holding a webinar series in the Spring of 2021 to discuss what is most important when implementing the CSS into the revised FCM regulation. Diverse issues will be highlighted, and related topics will be discussed by experts in more detail and draw on current scientific knowledge, including green chemistry, hazardous chemicals, endocrine disruption, mixture toxicity, simplifying chemicals, and substituting hazardous chemicals – with a focus on FCMs and the ongoing regulatory revision in Europe.
The dates and topics of the other webinars within the series are shown below, and more information will be announced soon:
- April 15, 2021 – Addressing endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and mixtures
- May 20, 2021 – Responding to hazardous chemicals in plastic FCMs
- June 10, 2021 – Looking forward
