Recent studies perform semi-systematic review of published circular economy literature focusing on plastics over past 21 years, develop framework for plastics in circular economy; find Dutch food packaging plastic waste polluting oceans, question effectiveness of recycling; summarize chemical and microbial hazards related to circular food production systems
July 5, 2022
California passes strongest EPR and recycling legislation in the US
Plastic pollution prevention and packaging producer responsibility act requires all packaging in California be recyclable or compostable by 2032; plastic packaging production be reduced by 25%, and 65% of packaging be recycled after use
June 29, 2022
Forecasting food packaging in 2040
UPM Specialty Papers and Smithers survey over 200 packaging professionals to make predictions on the food packaging market in 2040; respondents believe that by 2040 packaging sustainability will be dictated by government mandates and consumers will no longer accept tradeoffs between sustainability and convenience
June 23, 2022
Behavioral studies shed light on how to increase reuse, recycling, and sustainable packaging use
Two scientific studies explore recycling and reuse behavior and options for improvement; report that high level of perceived policy effectiveness can favor residents’ recycling behavior; combine environmental impacts assessment with behavioral science to determine best packaging reuse option and system; third study evaluates consumers’ response to sustainable packaging when benefit trade-offs are involved
June 21, 2022
South Korea creates application process for recycled food contact materials
Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) amends Food Sanitation Act to include process for manufacturers to receive authorization to use recycled materials in food contact applications
June 1, 2022
Taiwan starts rPET review process to support circular food packaging
Taiwan Food and Drug Administration publishes application and certification process for processing recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) for food contact; review process similar to those in the US and EU; manufacturers must demonstrate recycled pellets comply with either US or EU safety regulations
May 30, 2022
Drafting of the international plastics treaty now underway
First meeting to draft the international plastics treaty in Dakar, Senegal taking place from May 30 to June 1, 2022 with representatives from government, industry, and civil society; technical briefing on May 29, 2022 shares information on the relationship between plastics, chemical exposure, and human health
May 30, 2022
Report: European supermarkets falling short on packaging commitments
Changing Markets Foundation and Break Free From Plastic investigate plastic pollution related actions made by 74 of the largest European supermarkets; Total average score of retailers was just 13/100, only Aldi UK and Aldi Ireland scored above 60; over 80% of companies had no information on total plastic use which “casts doubt” over plastic reduction pledges because there is no baseline data
April 4, 2022
Plastic recycling
Plastic recycling processes, regulations, market data and safety issues addressed
March 31, 2022
Tracking flexible plastic after it gets ‘recycled’
Reporters from Bloomberg track three pieces of flexible plastic after they were placed in British grocery store recycling bins; some flexible plastics are recyclable, but others may end up burned for energy; one product ended up in Poland, likely burned in a cement factory; another in a Turkish facility where recycling is questionable
