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โ€˜Plastic Atlasโ€™ report available in English

Report by Heinrich Bรถll Stiftung provides data and figures on global plastic production and uses, advocates for using this information to catalyze a change of course; report originally published June 2019 in German

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Japan updates food contact materials positive list

Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare publishes lists of polymers, additives, and monomers permitted for use in food contact; enforcement of updated list and use requirements set for June 1, 2025; Japanese industry organization publishes discussion paper on chemicals management for products in the circular economy

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What is the best beverage packaging?

Article in Spiegel Online compares beverage packaging materials made of glass, plastic and aluminum; reusable glass or plastic bottles are considered most eco-friendly

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Colorado bans PFAS, establishes EPR scheme for packaging

Governor Jared Polis of the US state of Colorado signs bills regulating food packaging; House Bill 22-1355 establishes an extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme for packaging and printed paper; House Bill 22-1345 bans PFAS in eight product categories including food packaging by January 1, 2024

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Chinese government and industry work on FCM regulation

China amending the national food contact material (FCM) regulation for the first time since 2016; amendments would expand use of previously approved food contact chemicals (FCCs) and food additives; redefines FCM to clarify that packaging material must contact the food item; industry association issues draft guidance; regulatory agencies approve or in process of approving multiple new FCCs

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Reports identify there is still much to do to reach a circular economy

In the first quarter of 2022 Circle Economy, the OECD, and Zero Waste Europe publish reports investigating various aspects of material value chains and share insights to โ€˜close the circularity gapโ€™ and โ€˜bend the plastics curveโ€™; evaluate material usage globally, plastics in OECD nations and globally, and PET in Europe

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Californian District Court holds acrylamide lawsuits

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California grants preliminary injunction halting new lawsuits to enforce the Proposition 65 warning requirement for acrylamide in food and beverages; Californian Chamber of Commerce claims no scientific consensus, argues labels misleading consumers, unconstitutionally forcing speech; only applies to new acrylamide lawsuits; motion for summary judgment denied