Confederation of Paper Industries, publishes guide for packaging designers to increase recyclability of paper products; to improve recycling quality, suggests limiting laminates, coatings, inks, varnishes, and adhesives to no more than 10% of pack weight, aspirational goal of 5%; standard paper mills cannot process much laminate, e.g. coffee cups, cold cups, beverage cartons
Ellen MacArthur Foundation publishes new upstream innovation guide
New report on upstream innovation introduces mindset, gives guidance to implement elimination, reuse, and material recirculation; demonstrates successful implementation in several case studies; provides interactive resources to stakeholders
Considerations on reusable coffee to go cups
BfR answers frequently asked questions about reusable coffee to go cups, addresses hygiene aspects, discusses suitable materials
‘Sippy cups’ in draft EU ban on BPA in FCMs
EU Commission adds ‘sippy cups’ to its draft proposal for ban on BPA in plastic FCMs intended for use by babies and young children
European Parliament adopts amended Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation
Includes ban on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and bisphenol A in food packaging and general packaging reduction targets; decreases reuse obligations
PAAs in colored paper napkins
Scientists analyze primary aromatic amines in colored paper napkins from Europe; find sum PAA concentrations exceeding 10 µg/L limit, carcinogenic PAAs exceeding 2 µg/L limit; red, orange, yellow, and multi-colored napkins with highest load
Paper cups difficult to recycle
Waterproofing chemicals in paper cups prevent re-pulping in commercial mills and thus impede recycling, according to new industry study
Melamine migration above EU limits in some children’s cups
Danish Consumer Council reports melamine migration from five of eight tested children’s cups are above legal limits; migration tests undertaken after cups were washed 20 times and filled with a hot drink to simulate use; melamine classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans in the EU
Coffee cups made from husk
Australian start-up creates reusable coffee cups from husk waste accumulating during coffee processing; cups intended for café and home environments as alternative to ceramics and single-use disposable cups
Reusable coffee to go cups
German environmental organization Deutsche Umwelthilfe hosts workshop and evening seminar on November 15, 2016 focusing on reusable alternatives for single-use coffee to go cups