Tax on non-recyclable plastics originally set to come into effect on July 1, 2020; delay until January 1, 2021 estimated to cost the government €140 million worth of tax revenue; enacted in response to COVID-19 pandemic
May 11, 2020
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
May 6, 2020
The Netherlands to introduce bottle deposit in 2021
Government announces minimum 15 cent deposit that will apply to plastic beverage bottles less than 3 liters; new deposit regulations come into force on July 1, 2021; EU single-use plastic regulations become effective on January 1, 2022
May 5, 2020
Japan releases revised positive list for FCMs
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare publishes revised version of positive list for food contact materials (FCMs); includes additional base polymer resins, monomers, additives; to be enforced from June 1, 2020 with five-year transition period for existing products
April 29, 2020
Guidelines on recycled content and recyclability
British Plastics Federation publishes guidelines to help companies incorporate recycled content into their plastic packaging; RECOUP issues updated guidelines for designing plastic packaging for recyclability
April 28, 2020
COVID-19 challenging EPR and single-use legislation
Pandemic causing delays in advancing extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation across US states; increased demand for single-use packaging and plastic bags in Thailand hinders earlier efforts
April 23, 2020
The Intercept reports on plastic waste trade, industry outlook
Investigative journalist examines the economy and community impacts of plastic waste in Africa; provides overview of recent global regulatory discussions to manage plastic pollution, potential systematic decline of the plastics industry sector
April 21, 2020
COVID-19 to not delay EU single-use plastic directive
Industry association request to delay pending restrictions denied by European Commission; member states still expected to implement directive into national laws by original deadline
April 15, 2020
Overview of The Packaging Conference 2020
2020 edition of packaging industry event centers almost exclusively around issues of plastic pollution and recycling; next year’s conference to take place on February 8-10, 2021
April 1, 2020
Study on reducing odors in recycled LDPE
Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV publish study investigating sources of odors present in recycled low density polyethylene (LDPE); demonstrate reduction of odors through separated collection from household waste, washing at 60 degrees Celsius
