Panel publishes safety assessment of ‘phosphoric acid, mixed esters with 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate’; finds no safety concern when used as co-monomer up to set concentration, often used in manufacture of kitchen sinks and countertops
Assessing the circularity of single-use glass
Zero Waste Europe and Eunomia investigate the circularity of single-use container glass in Germany, France, the UK and US; Germany has the highest collection rates for glass and the highest proportion of recycled glass in containers; US is the lowest due to lack of collection facilities and mixed collection of glass with other packaging types; collecting glass separately and by color is the most effective way to increase circularity
UK research hub to investigate plastics
University of Exeter receives £1 million award to create new center to study plastic use and waste
UK recycling and waste management conference
Exhibition and conference on recycling and waste management to take place on September 12-13, 2018, in Birmingham, UK; focus on plastic waste problems
UK Parliamentary session on plastic waste
UK Parliamentary Committee plans to hold session to “scrutinize the ways in which the UK Government might reach its own target of eliminating all ‘avoidable’ plastic waste by 2042”; session to be streamed live
UK Plastics Pact eliminating more plastics from grocery items
UK Plastics Pact publishes second round of ‘problem plastics’ to eliminate by end of 2022; includes non-compostable fruit and vegetable stickers, non-compostable tea and coffee bags, PVC film; longer term goal to remove packaging from whole fruits and vegetables; Pact has reduced consumer packaging 10% between 2018 and 2020
Colombia launches Plastics Pact while previous Pacts struggle with 2025 targets
Colombia Plastics Pact launches; the second Latin American country to join the Plastics Pact program; reports show UK and US Plastics Pacts are unlikely to hit 2025 goals as total plastic use keeps increasing
Survey on quats
Canadian government initiates survey of quaternary ammonium compounds aiming to establish national inventory
Assessing risks of hydrophobic chemicals
Scientists argue that water-focused assessment schemes may misjudge risks of hydrophobic chemicals; sediments, particles, exposure through diet additionally play an important role; contribution of microplastics and nanoplastics uncertain but likely low
UK industry associations challenge French restrictions on BPA
European Commission should take action against BPA ban in France