Recent studies perform semi-systematic review of published circular economy literature focusing on plastics over past 21 years, develop framework for plastics in circular economy; find Dutch food packaging plastic waste polluting oceans, question effectiveness of recycling; summarize chemical and microbial hazards related to circular food production systems
July 19, 2022
Oligomers from plastic FCMs reviewed
The diversity of oligomeric migrants increases with new (co)monomer varieties used in plastic production; quantitative analysis and toxicological evaluation are challenging
July 18, 2022
Microplastics detected in human breastmilk and mice fetal thalamus
Two studies assess fetal and infant exposure to plastic particles and impacts on mouse fetuses; detect microplastics in 26 out of 34 human breastmilk samples; report polystyrene particles negatively impact mouse fetuses
July 14, 2022
What knowledge is missing to derive a microplastic threshold value?
Microplastic experts review mammalian in vivo effect studies and develop non-regulatory health-based screening level value for microplastics in drinking water; scientists provide research recommendations to better understand microplastic toxicity, effect levels, and potential health risks to humans and aquatic ecosystems; review discusses nanoplastics’ role in food allergy
July 12, 2022
FPF improves usability of brand and retailer initiatives database
Food Packaging Forum (FPF) updates global database of initiatives and commitments by food brands and retailers concerning food packaging safety and sustainability; database now presented as an interactive dashboard searchable by company name, type of organization, location, keywords, and date; currently contains nearly 600 actions pledged or undertaken by over 320 companies
July 12, 2022
New research on chemical migration from plastic, paper, can coating, and reusables
Recent reports investigate whitening agents’ migration from disposable plastic containers; characterize 153 chemicals migrating from paper packaging and show estimated dietary exposure for children to per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) exceed safety threshold; detect brominated flame retardants in repeat-use food contact articles; review metal can coating literature concerning coatings types, chemical migrants, detection methods, dietary exposure, and regulatory
July 11, 2022
EEB: At this pace, the EU will take centuries to regulate chemicals
European Environmental Bureau (EEB) analysis finds that it takes the EU two decades to regulate a chemical from start to finish; bottlenecks include industry submitting incomplete information, over-analysis by EU regulators, and the European Commission taking longer to decide about a Scientific Opinion than ECHA takes to draft it
July 7, 2022
Plastics industry: EU market fragmented around SUPD
European plastics associations map Member State implementation of the EU single use plastics directive (SUPD) a year after it was supposed to go into effect
July 6, 2022
Reuters: Unilever marketing says one thing and lobbying another
Investigation from Reuters reports Unilever fought to undermine the creation and implementation of laws banning or regulating plastic sachets in Sri Lanka, India, and the Philippines even while publicly acknowledging the pollution caused by the hard-to-recycle multilayer multimaterials during public comments
July 5, 2022
California passes strongest EPR and recycling legislation in the US
Plastic pollution prevention and packaging producer responsibility act requires all packaging in California be recyclable or compostable by 2032; plastic packaging production be reduced by 25%, and 65% of packaging be recycled after use
