UK’s Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) publishes UK Plastics Pact roadmap to 2025, outlines key actions to take to tackle plastic pollution
Thoughts on ‘plastic backlash’
Article in The Guardian ruminates on the history of plastics, reasons for current ‘backlash,’ possible outcomes and way forward
Persistence as cause of concern
Scientists review environmental implications of high persistence, argue that ‘highly persistent chemicals should be regulated on the basis of their persistence alone,’ regardless of bioaccumulation and toxicity propertie
Substitution analysis for plastic packaging
Life cycle assessment study commissioned by American Chemistry Council finds packaging plastics to have more favorable environmental profile than alternatives made of glass, metal, paper, textile, wood
CHE webinar on plastic food packaging
Collaborative on Health and the Environment holds webinar on Plastic food packaging within its Plastics and health series
EFSA assesses liquid absorber for use in FCMs
EFSA’s CEP Panel considers polyacrylic acid, sodium salt, cross‐linked safe for use in plastic food contact materials under certain conditions and for indirect food contact only
BfR: More research and data on microplastics needed
German risk assessment institute responds to Austrian stool study in communication addressing health risks from ingesting microplastics
The complexity of plastics recycling
Article by EcoWatch outlines some of the challenges in recycling plastics, deems recycling no simple solution to plastic pollution
UK to tax plastic packaging
UK government plans introducing tax on all plastic packaging containing less than 30% recycled content by April 2022
Global commitment to tackle plastic pollution
Ellen MacArthur Foundation initiates New Plastics Economy Global Commitment to stop plastic pollution at source; 290+ organizations pledge to eliminate, innovate, circulate plastic packaging