Scientists with expertise on the effects of chemicals and pollution from plastics urge the United States to support a binding plastics treaty; promote Rwanda and Peru’s resolution as one considering the entire life cycle of plastics
Opinion: Plastic recycling a ‘false promise’
Engineer estimates U.S. plastic recycling rate below 5% in 2018, calls for ‘real solutions’ to plastic pollution such as reduced production of single-use plastics, implementation of deposit schemes
New sleeves to help PET recycling
Industry association endorsed for standardized sleeves on PET bottles, new solution aims to improve sleeve removal before recycling
Report on plastic and health
Center for International Environmental Law publishes report about plastic risks across each stage of lifecycle, calls for lifecycle approach during decision making and for a variety of solutions and options
Responsibility of (bio)plastics industry
13th annual European Bioplastics conference discusses impacts of plastics pollution, elements of EU circular economy package, food contact regulations, bioplastics market development, life cycle assessment, new building blocks
EU Court of Justice: no DEHP in recycled PVC
EU Court of Justice’s General Advocate recommends ban on bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in recycled polyvinyl chloride (PVC); previous decision considered inadequate as it disregards endocrine disrupting properties of DEHP; NGO criticizes REACH lacking necessary tools to manage recycled materials
Newsweek article reports on opposing viewpoints on BPA
Representatives from academia, government and industry express their opinions on BPA, battle over BPA safety continues
BPA health costs at $3 billion annually
New study concludes on thousands of preventable cases of childhood obesity and heart disease caused by BPA; economic savings estimated to outweigh costs of replacing BPA
PFAS under mounting scrutiny in Europe, US
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) publishes long-awaited PFAS restriction proposal; includes blanket ban of all PFAS in Europe with two restriction timelines – all at once or in phases by use case; concludes PFAS in nearly all food contact and packaging applications have ‘high substitution potential’; NGO ChemSec adds 370 PFAS to SIN List; at least 28 US states expected to consider PFAS-related policy this year
Guiding the transition away from bisphenols
AkzoNobel Packaging Coatings publishes white paper outlining history of bisphenol use in can coatings, available alternatives, case studies from regions and industries that have switched away from bisphenols, and vision for the transition in Europe