EFSA has published guidance on the data needed to assess the safety of bisphenols other than BPA in food contact materials, following Regulation (EU) 2024/3190, with extended toxicological requirements even at the lowest migration level.
The European Commission has published a guide for small businesses on the PPWR. It sets out the obligations that apply today, how to identify the manufacturer, importer and producer roles, and the exemptions for micro-enterprises.
A peer-reviewed study found that biodegradable PLA-lined cups release approximately 12 times more micro- and nanoplastic particles than conventional PE-lined cups when exposed to hot water, raising questions about material substitution decisions in food contact packaging.
European food producers and packaging manufacturers face a major problem: compliance with EU Regulation 10/2011 or the PPWR does not transfer to the US, Japan or China, where divergent positive lists, extraction tests and migration limits require separate regulatory assessment.
Italy has become the first EU Member State to exercise the PPWR’s Article 9(2)(b) flexibility, mandating compostability instead of recyclability for specific single-use plastic packaging in fresh produce and HoReCa.
The European Commission has launched three parallel calls for evidence to develop the secondary legislation defining how PPWR recycled content targets for plastic packaging are calculated, verified and enforced. The feedback period runs until 16 September 2026.
A nova-Institute study for the European Commission examines the role of bio-based feedstocks in plastic packaging under the PPWR, arguing that bio-based and recycled carbon are complementary routes to reducing fossil carbon.
Researchers at NTU Singapore have developed a method for recycling mixed plastic packaging without the use of chemical solvents.The technique, called depolymerization-induced polymer separation, breaks down one plastic component in a mixed plastic structure while leaving others intact.
On 9 June 2026, US Congress introduced the No Toxics in Food Packaging Act, proposing to ban PFAS, ortho-phthalates, bisphenols, styrene polymers and antimony trioxide from all food contact materials.
TOMRA Reuse installs Germany’s first automated cup return machines in Freiburg, showing how smart infrastructure can seamlessly scale RECUP networks and help brands meet impending PPWR reuse targets.
The UK has confirmed a flat 20p deposit for all in-scope drink containers ahead of the October 2027 launch of its Deposit Return Scheme. The decision simplifies implementation for producers and retailers, with the return handling fee still to be finalised.
Biodegradability and food safety are distinct, but compliance is feasible through precise engineering. A 2026 study on PBS/PLA blends reveals how optimizing material formulation and processing can ensure compliance with regulatory standards.