Thomas Backhaus reviews the Food Packaging Forum’s work in 2019; includes organization and participation in conferences and webinars, scientific projects finalized and launched
Plastics Pact launched in Oceania
Sixty stakeholders in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands form ANZPAC, join the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s global Plastics Pact initiative; 11th plastic pact overall, second regional pact and first in Oceania; 2025 goals include: 100% of plastic packaging to be reusable, recyclable or compostable, 25% increase in plastic packaging collected and recycled by each country in the region
New study investigates hormonal activity of food packaging
Austrian researchers publish new findings on (anti)estrogen and (anti)androgen effects of various different food contact materials; polystyrene and other materials test positive
MigraTox: Optimizing in vitro testing of FCMs
Austrian Research Institute for Chemistry and Technology (OFI) initiates MigraTox project to work on optimizing and standardizing sample preparation and bioassays for in vitro testing of food contact materials; focuses on genotoxicity assays; calls on industrial partners to collaborate and provide samples
Bisphenol A and lead in mothers and children in Vienna and Bratislava
The Austrian study Um-MuKi (Environment, mother, child) found lead and bisphenol A in the blood of mothers and children in Bratislava and Vienna
Calendar of Upcoming Events
Upcoming events including conferences, workshops, meetings, and trainings related to food packaging and health.
Plastics Circularity Multiplier online conference
Plastics Circularity Multiplier conference presenting Horizon 2020-funded circular economy projects to take place online on October 14-16, 2020; webinars free of charge, additional registration to open soon
EFSA working group on recycling plastics: 16th meeting
Updated meeting minutes of EFSA’s CEF Panel working group on recycling plastics now available online
More toxic chemicals in recycled plastics products
Environmental NGOs find brominated dioxins in children’s toys, highlight need to avoid recycling of materials containing hazardous chemicals
Microplastic effects on colon cells, blood lymphocytes, and gut-liver axis
Two in vitro studies analyze plastic particle effects using human cells; find polystyrene (PS) particles change metabolism of human colon cells similar to a carcinogen; PS nanoplastics may have cytotoxic and genotoxic potential on human blood lymphocytes; mouse study indicates microplastics increase risk of insulin resistance; researchers calculate particle ingestion from takeaway containers