European Commission adopts guiding criteria for determining the ‘essential use’ of harmful chemicals, emphasizing that their use is justified only when necessary for health, safety, or crucial societal functions with no alternatives; essential use is not legally binding until incorporated into regulation
April 24, 2024
Surveys show public overwhelmingly in favor of measures against plastic pollution
Surveys by Greenpeace and World Wildlife Fund investigate public opinion on plastic reduction; 82% in favor of reducing plastic production; 90% support prohibition of harmful chemicals in plastic
April 24, 2024
PFAS measuring protocols likely underestimate total concentrations
Study of PFAS concentrations in consumer products finds that US Environmental Protection Agency protocol likely does not “adequately capture PFAS embodied in consumer products”; also finds “large fraction” of surface and groundwaters exceed regulatory concentrations; “future PFAS environmental burden is likely underestimated”
April 23, 2024
FPF comments on proposed amendments to EU regulations on food contact plastics
Food Packaging Forum (FPF) critiques the European Commission’s proposed amendments to regulations on food contact plastics; says suggested threshold for non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) lacks scientific evidence; supports enhanced specifications for migration testing
April 19, 2024
Plastics Treaty should align circular economy goals with waste hierarchy, scientists say
Letter in Science by 13 members of the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty calls for UN Plastic Treaty negotiators to integrate circular economy goal with waste hierarchy principles to encourage sustainable long-term solutions to end plastic pollution
April 18, 2024
Flame retardants above regulatory limits in some ‘eco-friendly’ baking papers
Study of bio-based food contact articles made of sugarcane bagasse or cellulose wood pulp labelled “natural”, “compostable”, or “biodegradable” finds PFAS and organophosphate esters (OPEs), a type of flame retardant and plasticizer; concentrations highest in baking papers; though purchased in Italy, some OPEs above EU regulatory concentration limit of 0.01 mg/kg
April 17, 2024
Review of endocrine disruptors in beverage packaging
Publication assesses over fifty studies on endocrine disrupting chemicals migrating from packaging into beverages; finds that material type, acidity, and storage impact migration rates; phthalates were most detected in polymer films, while bisphenol A was measured most in canned beverages
April 16, 2024
FDA issues final rule to streamline food contact notification process
U.S. Food and Drug Administration implements new rule on food contact authorization; aimed at enhancing food chemical safety administrative processes; enables administration to assess substances beyond safety considerations; effective on May 21, 2024
April 15, 2024
Many questions surround microplastics, what about micro(bio)plastics?
Literature review of micro- and nano(bio)plastics research; scrutinizes the complexities of micro- and nano(bio)plastics degradation and their toxicological effects; highlights gaps in long-term impact studies and interactions with environmental conditions; challenges the assumption that “biodegradable” means complete degradation; calls for greater transparency in research practices to bolster collective understanding
April 11, 2024
Deciphering the differences in plastic particles reported in foods
Two studies investigate micro- and nanoplastics measured in foods; review the range of reported values and diversity of study methods; make suggestions to standardize research methodologies; one study outlines additional standards the micro – nanoplastics research community needs to develop in order to assist regulators
