Published report focuses on chemicals as overlooked part of a circular economy; urges companies to not rely on legal compliance alone, calls for avoiding hazardous substances during design stage and speeding up regulation
EU phthalates restriction comes into force
REACH restriction limits concentration of the four phthalates DEHP, DBP, DIBP, and BBP in consumer articles; restriction does not apply to food contact materials
China publishes amendment to standard on uses of additives in FCMs
National Health Commission publishes draft amendment to standard on uses of additives in food contact materials (FCMs) and articles; includes correction about specific migration limits of certain chemicals
How does the food and beverage sector address plastic pollution?
Scientists review 68 corporate sustainability reports of major food and beverage companies on plastic pollution and packaging; find most reports do not address plastic pollution and focus on end-of-life options instead of sustainable packaging solutions
Beverage and recycling companies pledge increased packaging collection
American Beverage Association launches initiative to bring $400 million in investment to improve recycled plastics quality and availability in U.S.; Tomra aims to enable 40% of global plastic packaging to be recycled by 2030
Commission decides against EU nano register
European Commission declines EU register for nanomaterials and confirms that new information requirements for nanomaterials under REACH will not be introduced before 2018
P&P conference 2020: News from the European Commission
Smithers Pira’s annual conference on plastics and paper in contact with foodstuffs informs about the latest activities of the European Commission
U.K. committee report on toxic chemicals
Parliamentary committee report calls for greater transparency of chemicals used in food packaging, recommends U.K.-wide ban on SVHCs in food contact materials, proposes government strategy to reduce PFAS exposure
Rethink plastic's open letter to EU Commission
Rethink plastic NGO alliance sends open letter to EU Commission, asks for a ‘strong and harmonized EU legislation’ within EU Strategy on Plastics
Microplastics in compost
New study finds microplastic particles in compost from supermarket and household waste; plastic fragments most likely remnants of food packaging; potential source of microplastic contamination in soil and freshwater