UK retailer Iceland to replace plastic packaging of own-brand products with paper and pulp by 2023; supports initiatives for plastic bottle deposit return scheme
EFSA evaluates ‘Envases Ureña’ recycling process
EFSA’s CEF Panel considers PET made from recycling process ‘Envases Ureña’ safe for use in food contact articles for all types of foodstuffs under certain conditions
EFSA assesses HDPE and PP recycling process
EFSA’s CEF Panel considers HDPE and PP made from recycling process ‘Morssinkhof Plastics’ suitable for use in food contact articles intended for dry foods, fruits, vegetables and meat under specific conditions
EU plastics strategy published
European Commission adopts EU-wide strategy for plastics in the circular economy, aims to make all plastic packaging recyclable, reduce single-use plastics, ban intentional microplastics
WRAP and Ellen MacArthur to tackle plastics in UK
Ellen MacArthur Foundation and UK’s Waste and Resources Action Program announce initiative to tackle plastics in the UK; focus on plastic packaging; aim to eliminate single-use plastics, boost recycling, mobilize citizens
A single polymer for food packaging?
UK retailer Marks and Spencer considers using only one polymer group for plastic food packaging to improve recyclability; PET and PEF possible options
UK environment committee calls for bottle deposit system
Environmental Audit Committee of UK parliament demands nation-wide plastic bottle deposit return scheme, more access to free drinking water, increased packaging producer responsibility, and 50% recycled content in plastic bottles
EU legislation on waste
Council of the European Union and EU Parliament provisionally agree on EU Commission’s proposals for revision of EU waste legislation; introduce new binding targets for packaging waste recycling, define requirements for extended producer responsibility
EFSA working group on recycling plastics: 20th meeting
Updated meeting minutes of EFSA’s CEF Panel working group on recycling plastics now available online
PET collection and recycling growing in Europe
Nearly 60% of PET bottles on European market collected for recycling in 2016, according to Petcore Europe report; detailed survey results to be discussed at 2018 Petcore Europe conference