Food Packaging Forum (FPF) submits feedback on European Commission’s roadmap to develop chemicals strategy for sustainability; calls for sufficient support to establish appropriate test methods, prioritize substitution of the known hazardous chemicals currently authorized for use in food contact materials
June 23, 2020
Report on EU’s flexible films market
Industry association Plastic Recyclers Europe (PRE) publishes market data related to annual production, use, and recycling of flexible plastics in the EU; food packaging sector primarily uses polyolefin films, presence of multi-material films complicates recycling; more infrastructure for collection, separation, recycling needed
June 22, 2020
Over 115 health experts sign statement on safety of reuse
Greenpeace and UPSTREAM publish statement signed by wide-range of doctors and public health researchers, emphasize that reuse systems in stores and restaurants can be implemented safely during COVID-19 pandemic by following standard sanitation laws; single-use items not inherently safer than reusables
June 22, 2020
US EPA rejects setting perchlorate limits in drinking water
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces that no federal limits will be set on perchlorate in drinking water; administration defends decision as necessary to remove overregulation, health advocates argue it is illegal and unscientific
June 19, 2020
Framework developed to support safe-by-design nanomaterials
Scientists create set of 17 questions to help innovators consider potential risks to human health posed by nano-sized products or materials during the innovation process, aiming to guide development and identify safety issues already at early design stages
June 19, 2020
EEB priorities for upcoming EU chemical strategy
Non-governmental organization European Environmental Bureau (EEB) publishes position paper setting 8 priorities for upcoming EU Chemical Strategy for Sustainability; calls for revision of food contact materials legislation, creation of chemical substitution forums and technical support centers for small and medium sized businesses, ‘polluter pays’ tax
June 18, 2020
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
June 18, 2020
Korea updates FCM standards, allows chemically recycled resins
Notification from South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) announces revisions in standards including migration and testing requirements; allows chemically recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) resins to be used in non-food contact parts of food contact materials (FCM)
June 18, 2020
ECHA committees reach consensus on PFHxS but not on resorcinol
Committee agrees to support Norway’s restriction proposal on manufacture and placing on the market of perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts, and related substances; cannot reach consensus to identify resorcinol as substance of very high concern (SVHC), agree that it is endocrine disrupting under World Health Organization (WHO) definition
June 18, 2020
Russia publishes chemicals inventory
Ministry of Industry and Trade releases transitional inventory to inform developing chemicals regulation; open for additional submissions from Russian based companies until August 1, 2020