Companies CertiChem and PlastiPure – previously sued and found guilty for claiming estrogen activity of plastic Tritan™ – launch their own estrogen activity-free baby bottle
Report summarizes US role in marine plastic pollution
US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine publishes report outlining US contribution and response to global ocean plastic waste; identifies data gaps and recommendations for US policy action across the supply chain; says US should ‘substantially’ reduce waste generation
Chemical migration from plastic FCMs in China
Chinese scientists analyze migration from 120 domestic plastic FCM products; only 13% of detected migrants listed on EU positive list for plastic FCMs; widespread detection of antioxidant precursor 2,4-DTBP
Collaborative to verify and register safer chemical alternatives
Chem Forward and Sustainable Packaging Coalition launch collaborative to identify, assess, and verify safer alternatives for use in food packaging; plan to develop cloud-based registration system, highlight best practices, develop common agenda to accelerate systemic change
Discussing database on SVHCs in products
Manufacturers criticize ECHA’s proposal for database of SVHCs in products; recycling industry welcomes the idea but is concerned about lack of coverage for products already marketed; ECHA to hold a workshop on SVHC database on October 22-23, 2018
Bisphenol S
Bisphenol S is used as a substitute of BPA in food contact materials, in a new context article the Food Packaging Forum reports on applications, toxicity, exposure and regulation of BPS
UNEP and EU updates on marine plastic pollution
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) completes survey of South-East Asian consumers and businesses, finds ‘significant disconnect’ between expectations and actions taken to address plastic waste; European Commission (EC) and European Environment Agency (EEA) publish status reports on marine protection efforts in the EU, show mixed results with increase in plastics contamination
EFSA: Safety assessment of 3 FCM substances
EFSA’s CEF Panel considers substances 2,4-di-tert-amylphenol, montmorillonite clay modified by dimethyldialkyl(C16-C18)ammonium chloride, and 4-acrylamido-4-methyl-2-pentanone as safe for use in food contact materials under certain conditions
Safe and Sustainable by Design: 1st EU stakeholder workshop
European Commission holds workshop with stakeholders to discuss criteria for chemicals that are Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD); implementation of EU’s Chemical Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) will depend on clear and implementable criteria for SSbD, amongst other central pillars such as essential use and generic risk assessment
Mass balance principles for plastic recycling
American Chemistry Council (ACC) proposes principles for applying mass balance approach in plastics recycling; includes traceability across supply chain and third-party auditing to verify product claims