Half of surveyed people have difficulty with the difference between compostable and biodegradable; 50% of participants fail to dispose of packaging correctly; report suggests better standardization and consumer education needed
UV-328 qualifies for screening as POP
Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC) meeting finds antioxidant UV-328 (TINUVIN-328) fulfills all four criteria for screening as Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP) under the Stockholm Convention; next step is the preparation of a draft risk profile for the widely used plastic additive
Environmental fate of biodegradable bags
Plastic bags labeled as ‘biodegradable’ remain intact after 3 years in marine environment, scientists report; bioplastics industry criticizes study design, interpretation
EFSA to complete BPA evaluation in 2014
EFSA publishes press release regarding BPA evaluation, to complete assessment by the end of 2014
EU Parliament calls for swift action on EDCs
Resolution passes in EU Parliament calling for EU Commission to act swiftly to ensure human and environmental protection from endocrine disrupting chemicals; specifically calls for revising regulation on food contact materials no later than June 2020
EU governments consider actions on circular economy
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) publishes literature review to find and evaluate risks that could come from a circular economy, actions the agency could take to mitigate any risks; suggests further research on exposure risks from shelf life extending materials as well as recycled, reusable, and biobased packaging; European Commission proposes ecodesign for sustainable products regulation; Ireland’s cabinet passes circular economy bill
Global Food Contact Conference 2022: updates from Asia
Smithers conference covers global developments in food contact regulations and materials; speakers on day two review recent and upcoming changes to food packaging regulations in China, Japan, India, and Southeast Asia
EU to monitor mineral oil hydrocarbons in food
EU Commission adopts recommendation to monitor mineral oil hydrocarbons in food and in materials and articles intended for food contact; 2017-2018 monitoring data to be submitted to EFSA by February 2019
EC publishes Circular Economy Action Plan
European Commission’s new plan includes specific aims to simplify packaging materials, reduce unnecessary packaging use, set mandatory requirements for recycled content, remove hazardous chemicals from product life cycles; timelines for individual initiatives published
EFSA recycling plastics group: 6th meeting
EFSA’s CEP Panel’s working group on recycling plastics 2018-2021 continues discussing draft scientific opinions on several plastic recycling processes; minutes of the 6th meeting now available online