Scientific studies analyze bisphenol content in thermal papers and migrates from reusable drinking bottles; of 14 analyzed bisphenols 4 detected in thermal receipts and 3 in bottles migrates at low concentrations; dishwashing but not handwashing prior to use reduces bisphenol A (BPA) leaching from Tritan
September 1, 2021
Review assesses 20 years of food safety research
Integrative review analyzes recent scientific advances in food and environmental safety; scientometric analysis reveals increasing multidisciplinary interest between 2001 and 2020; finds contaminants and environmentally friendly food packaging as emerging research topics in the field of food safety
September 1, 2021
Japan revises positive list for FCMs
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare publishes revised version of positive list for food contact materials (FCMs); applies to utensils, containers, and packaging made of synthetic resins; 83 substances added to the list of plastic polymers, 192 to coatings, 29 to monomers, and 121 to additives
August 31, 2021
Report on residential access to recycling in the US
Sustainable Packaging Coalition publishes updated report on the availability of residential recycling in the United States for 32 types of packaging materials; steel food cans, aluminum beverage cans, corrugated cardboard, paperboard, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles accepted by > 84% of facilities surveyed; foil and rigid polystyrene (PS) had fewest recycling options; access to recycling declined since 2016
August 30, 2021
PFAS actions in three US states
California expected to pass bill banning PFAS in food packaging; Michigan legislators reintroduce bill to ban PFAS, phthalates, and bisphenols in food packaging; Massachusetts’ Toxics Use Reduction Act program votes for expanding reporting requirements
August 26, 2021
Critical review discusses biobased plastics
Article evaluates pros, cons, and improvement potential of biobased polymers looking at production, end-of-life, environmental, and toxicological impacts; regards bioplastics as promising alternative but not without issues; emphasizes importance of considering economic, social, environmental, and legislative issues when scaling up biobased plastics
August 25, 2021
German BfR comments on the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability
The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) comments on the EU’s Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS); criticizes the alleged exclusion of scientific risk assessment experts in the development and implementation of the CSS; comments supported by others with demonstrated ties to chemical industry.
August 24, 2021
China seeks comments on 11 food contact chemicals
China’s National Center for Food Safety and Risk Assessment seeks comments on expanded uses of 4 food contact chemicals (FCCs) and 7 new FCCs; two substances are listed in the Food Packaging Forum’s food contact chemicals database as substances of potential concern; comments accepted until September 10, 2021
August 24, 2021
Update: India’s ban on single-use plastic items
India officially adopts Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021; bans import, manufacture, and sale of plastic candy and ice cream sticks, plates, cups, cutlery, trays, and certain wrapping films after July 1, 2022
August 23, 2021
Recycling food-grade plastics in the EU
Recycling Today reports on the challenges of supplying food-grade recycled plastics even as commitments increase; European Commission registers Citizens’ Initiative to create plastic bottle deposit and extended producer responsibility system in EU; World Wildlife Fund Germany investigates packaging system to find ways to increase circularity, encourages reuse over recycling