European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) publishes life cycle assessment (LCA) case studies covering five single-use versus reusable packaging scenarios; incorporates 16 impacts; paper production practices and consumer behavior play significant role in final, single impact score; reuse tended to perform better in most scenarios, significantly so when comparing reusable glass bottles versus single-use glass
JRC weighs in on PPWR reusable packaging debate
European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) case studies favor reusable over single-use packaging in reducing environmental impacts; consumer behavior, washing practices significant factor in footprint of reusables; manufacturing a significant factor for single-use; covers to-go beverage, take-away food, wine bottles, restaurant scenario; performed the study for packaging and packaging waste regulation (PPWR) policy process; final report expected November 2023
JRC Symposium compares microplastic analysis methods
European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) symposium summarizes current approaches for microplastic monitoring; research institutions present results of 4 inter-laboratory microplastic analysis comparison studies; no ‘one-size-fits-all’ analytical method, presenters emphasize need for harmonization; Commission outlines policy needs
JRC report on science for food
European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) launches report on science for food; publication to inform pending Farm to Fork Strategy; includes overview of JRC’s previous and current work on food contact materials
First annual EU forum on endocrine disruptors
Event brings together EU government agencies, research institutions, stakeholders to discuss endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs); Joint Research Centre (JRC) announces upcoming launch of stakeholder survey to inform ongoing fitness check of EU legislation
JRC: Avoid pre-heating for migration testing
EU Reference Laboratory for Food Contact Materials completes study on the impacts of pre-heating food contact materials before migration testing; advises reference laboratories to avoid pre-heating
JRC updates footprint methods
European Commission Joint Research Center updates its product and organizational environmental footprint methods; now includes characterization factors for more chemicals describing freshwater ecotoxicity, non-cancer and cancer toxicity
JRC informs about chemicals in food packaging
EU Joint Research Centre highlights Commission’s efforts in ensuring safety of food contact materials in new 2-page document
JRC report on PAH migration
EU Joint Research Centre develops method to determine migration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from plastic and rubber articles with focus on dermal contact
EFSA and JRC continue to collaborate
EFSA and EU Joint Research Centre reinforce cooperation in food and feed safety areas, including food contact materials