Environment Committee of EU Parliament rejects EU Commission’s proposal to allow up to 2% lead by weight in recycled polyvinylchloride (PVC); see increased levels as unsafe and unnecessary given available PVC alternatives, argue recycling should not justify continued use of hazardous substances
EU Commission’s Working Group on FCMs
EU Working Group on FCMs discusses BPA, amendments to EU 10/2011, mineral oil migration, authorization of recycling processes, migration testing guidelines
EFSA: Communicating uncertainty
European Food Safety Authority publishes guidance on communicating uncertainty to complement previously published guidance on uncertainty analysis in scientific assessments
EU plastics strategy published
European Commission adopts EU-wide strategy for plastics in the circular economy, aims to make all plastic packaging recyclable, reduce single-use plastics, ban intentional microplastics
Associations report European packaging recycling rates
Industry associations report recycling rates of packaging materials in Europe; average collection rate of glass bottles and jars hit 80% in 2020; paper packaging recycling over 80%; paper recycling rates close to theoretical maximum; plastic recycling has not increased despite increased demand by beverage companies; two-thirds of plastic-packaging pledges in Europe failed, supporting the change away from single-use likely necessary
Guide to design for recycled content
New guide aims to support brands and suppliers in increasing recycled content in packaging; provides specific guidance for a range of packaging material types
Focus on BPA analogues
Recent studies investigate effects of bisphenol A analogues such as BPS and BPF, reveal similar endocrine disrupting effects of analogues in cell lines and whole organisms
UN publishes Plastics Treaty zero draft
The “zero draft” is a starting point for discussion and amendments ahead of November’s Plastics Treaty negotiation in Kenya; each proposed treaty element includes options of varying ambition; Part II focuses on elements of plastics’ life cycle, including chemicals and polymers of concern; Option 1 imposes strict limitations, Option 2 mandates minimal usage, Option 3 leaves it to national action plans; Annex A provides potential criteria for determining chemicals and polymers of concern, along with options for development and usage within the Treaty
Rethinking safe levels
Scientific review shows that some chemicals are proportionately more toxic at lower exposure levels; “dose makes poison” principle indicates that current risk assessment approaches underestimate chemical toxicity
BPA and brain development
New study finds increased numbers of neurons formed during early development in mouse pups prenatally exposed to bisphenol A; altered social behavior and hyperactivity observed later in life