European Food Safety Authority launches guidance on assessment of ‘combined effects’ of chemical mixtures in food and feed
7th Biopolymers and Sustainable Composites Seminar
EC study guides creation of sustainable-by-design criteria
European Commission (EC) releases study mapping current sustainability initiatives and research applicable to creating sustainable-by-design criteria; particular focus on materials and chemicals, including a section assessing nanomaterials; finds few policies related to the production phase of a material’s life cycle; next steps are to identify specific aspects of sustainability to be covered in the criteria and how to evaluate them
Global estimate of plastic production, use and fate
8,300 million tons of plastics produced to date, according to new study; only 9% of plastic waste recycled; 12,000 million tons of plastic waste expected to accumulate in landfills or environment by 2050
Report outlines how plastic production harms human health, environment, economy
Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health publishes extensive report summarizing plastics’ effects across life cycle on human health, environment, and the economy; health effects cost society hundreds of billions every year; report includes actions for “governments and industries to minimize the negative consequences of global plastic contamination”
Joint venture for FDCA and PEF production
Companies BASF and Avantium join forces for large scale production of FDCA and promotion of PEF as an alternative to conventional plastics
The NORMAN Suspect List Exchange (NORMAN-SLE): facilitating European and worldwide collaboration on suspect screening in high resolution mass spectrometry
EFSA authorizes six PET recycling processes for up to 100 % use in food contact materials
EFSA authorized PET recycling processes based on the STARLINGER IV+ technology and the “RPET Nosinyec process”
Toxicological and chemical profiling of plastic migrates
Scientific study investigates in vitro toxicity and composition of chemical mixtures migrating from everyday plastic products made of eight polymer types; demonstrates that thousands of chemicals can leach under realistic use conditions, including compounds toxic in vitro that contribute to human exposure; emphasizes the importance to rethink and redesign plastics to achieve safe materials
Report critically reviews brands’ plastics commitments
New report by the Changing Markets Foundation investigates commitments on plastic packaging made by largest food and consumer goods companies; criticizes consistently failed promises, sees voluntary initiatives as tactics to distract from and avoid responsibility