Mid-2025 marks a pivotal wave of updates in food contact material (FCM) regulations across three diverse markets: the Netherlands, Indonesia, and Brazil. While the Netherlands and Indonesia focus on tightening chemical thresholds and harmonizing standards, Brazil sets contaminant standards for…
UK packaging and plastics producers risk “leaving money on the table” if they fail to adopt circular business models, according to a new report from WRAP and OC&C Strategy Consultants. The analysis shows companies embracing circular strategies, from designing for…
The second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2), convened from August 5 to 15, 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, represented what many falsely hoped would be the final push toward a legally…
In 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is undergoing one of its most transformative regulatory shifts in decades. Prompted by public health concerns and administrative directives, changes in oversight of food contact materials (FCMs) now focus on post-market…
Nine of the UK’s largest supermarket chains have announced a “Statement of Intent” to explore reusable packaging across physical stores and online channels. Supported by WRAP and governments from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, this initiative aims to significantly reduce single-use…
As of 2025, economic pressures and global uncertainty are strongly influencing consumer behavior in the United States. A new study by McKinsey & Company, conducted in March 2025 across 11 countries and featuring 1,000 US respondents, provides insight into evolving…
In the European Commission’s latest publication, new draft rules have been put forward to standardize how companies calculate, verify and report chemically-recycled content in single-use plastic beverage bottles. This initiative is part of the EU’s push to achieve strict recycled…
Switzerland is strengthening its chemical safety rules for food contact materials (FCMs) and articles to match stricter European Union standards. On June 2, 2025, the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) issued RO 2025 395 to amend the nation’s…
In our previous article, we outlined Japan’s introduction of a Positive List (PL) system for food contact materials (FCMs) under the Food Sanitation Act. As the official enforcement date of June 1, 2025 passed, Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) released crucial updates…
The UK government’s newly confirmed base fees for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) have been welcomed by some packaging sectors but continue to draw concern from the glass packaging industry. The Foodservice Packaging Association (FPA) and the Food and Drink Federation…
The European Union continues to push for safer chemicals by placing new restrictions on two commonly used industrial solvents and expanding its Candidate List of hazardous substances. Companies across Europe now face tighter rules under REACH, the EU’s chemical safety…
The European Commission has unexpectedly stepped back from its proposed Green Claims Directive; a policy aimed at tackling misleading environmental claims made by companies. The withdrawal was announced during the final days of the current European Parliament’s term, sparking frustration…