Canadian province of Ontario expands extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme for paper packaging from covering half of recycling cost to full cost by 2023; adds single-use food packaging to program; legislatures in US states of Maine and Oregon pass EPR legislation that includes food packaging; governors of both states need to sign for bills to become law
Canada mandates reporting on use of BPA and alternatives
Department of the Environment now requiring reporting from all manufacturers, importers, and users of bisphenol A (BPA) and over 180 alternative substances during the year 2019; includes commercial status, downstream uses; March 16, 2022 set as deadline for data submission
UK announces actions to reduce plastic waste
UK’s prime minister calls for plastic bag charge in all UK shops, plastic-free supermarket aisles, tax on single-use plastic items, funding for plastics innovation and aid for developing nations
UK: Most plastic food packaging unrecyclable
UK Local Government Association finds only one third of collected plastic food packaging is recyclable, calls for better packaging design, ban on low-grade plastics, greater contribution of producers to cost of collection and disposal
UK public consultation on food strategy
Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs calls for evidence to support development of National Food Strategy; plans for ‘radical shake-up of the UK’s food industry’; consultation open online until October 25, 2019
£7 million for innovative UK plastic supply chain projects
Innovate UK seeks applications from UK businesses, institutions, charities, etc. to fund ambitious projects addressing UK Plastic Pact targets; project foci include: minimization/reduction of plastic packaging, food grade recycled polypropylene and polyethylene, and packaging suitable for reuse, refill; application open until September 8, 2021
UK publishes report on bio-based FCMs
Report reviews published scientific and grey literature for existing materials marketed for food contact; expects current risk assessment methods to be appropriate or adaptable, notes limited existing research on materials made from agri-food by-products and their potential risks
Report on improving management of UK packaging waste
Researchers investigate current waste management system, identify long-term waste management contracts with local authorities as limiting improvements and innovation; recommend better distribution of value across system using extended producer responsibility, deposit schemes
UK supermarket coalition co-developing refill system
Four UK supermarket chains announce they are partnering to create a single food refill system that works across all their stores and delivery platforms; want to reduce single-use plastic packaging; details and trial locations to be announced later in 2022
Food packaging and chemical safety: What does the future hold?
The Food Packaging Forum’s third annual workshop took a look at scientific trends and expected developments in the area of food contact materials and chemical safety. Participants and speakers from regulatory authorities, industry, and academia, as well as from public interest groups, gathered to discuss the issue of chemical migration from food contact materials and impact on health. We addressed today’s perspectives, looked at historical developments in analytical chemistry and chemical risk assessment, and shared insights on scientific challenges and […]