plastic
Italy bans use of plastic bags
A ban on the use of plastic shopping bags in Italy has come into force after it was revealed that shoppers in the country previously used about 20 billion bags – about one-fifth of the total used in Europe. Retailers, however, have warned that the ban, which came into force on 1 January, could cause […]
No need to change BPA guidelines, says EFSA
Following a comprehensive review of recent scientific literature and studies on the toxicity of bisphenol A at low doses, EU food safety watchdog EFSA says it sees no need to cut the official limit on accepted exposure to bisphenol A, a chemical in plastic containers which some experts believe may harm human health. Some European […]
Sainsbury’s in packaging rap
Sainsbury’s is being taken to court for using excessive wrapping in a move that could open the door to a wave of similar charges being brought throughout the UK. The store is the first supermarket to face official action over wasteful packaging, with the charge relating to its Taste the Difference Slow Matured Ultimate Beef. […]
Mixed views on carrier bag costs
Public opinion on the issue of charging for plastic bags is decidedly mixed, according to a new ethical living report from YouGov SixthSense. It reveals that 32% of UK consumers agree with the scheme as it will reduce the overall number being used. However, one in four respondents thinks such a scheme is a ploy […]
Food at risk from toxic packaging, says new report
Supermarket food is at risk of being contaminated by a ‘highly toxic’ chemical found in the glue of packaging labels, according to a new study. The chemical, which is in the same class of toxicity as mercury, asbestos and hydrochloric acid, can seep through and contaminate food, says the research, and is found in high […]
Plastic recycling targets ‘unachievable’
New plastic packaging recycling targets set by the UK government are unachievable and potentially counterproductive, says a leading industry body. The British Plastics Federation (BPF) says a proposal to increase plastic packaging recycling to 56.9 per cent by 2020 is ‘not achievable in less than 10 years’. The new targets detailed in a consultation paper […]
Tetra Pak ‘green’ plastic trial
Tetra Pak has agreed to carry out a limited trial to source green plastic from Brazil for use in its carton packaging. The company has reached agreement with the largest Brazilian petrochemical company, Braskem SA, to purchase limited volumes of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) derived entirely from a renewable feedstock. The agreement represents the first move […]
New packaging ‘can triple shelf life’
New food packaging can double or, in some cases, even triple the shelf life of certain foods for up to 24 months compared with conventional packaging, according to manufacturer Superfos. SuperLock packaging is said to achieve the longer shelf-life thanks to ‘almost non-existent oxygen transmission rates’ obtained through a new oxygen barrier. And barrier protection […]
PET project for Nestle
Food giant Nestle has announced that it is launching a new range of mineral water in the US packaged in bottles consisting of 25 per cent recycled PET (rPET). The Re-Source brand, which will be backed by a recycling initiative, will be sold exclusively at Whole Foods Market outlets in the US, where consumers will […]
Chemical fears lead to cartoned water launch
Safety fears over controversial chemical bisphenol A (BPA) and environmental concerns have prompted one US beverage company to start selling water in cartons. O.N.E World Enterprises has announced the launch of O.N.E Water in a BPA-free Tetra Pak carton as a ‘sustainable alternative to plastic bottled water’. “With concern growing about the health risks of […]
Plastics companies struggling to get credit insurance
Almost 80 per cent of UK plastic companies are struggling to get credit insurance as the recession refuses to loosen its grip on the economy, according to a survey by the British Plastics Federation (BPF). The industry body also predicts that a further 6,800 jobs could go in the industry after more than a third […]
Recycling first for Rachel’s
Organic dairy brand Rachel’s says it is the first ever yogurt producer to use recycled plastic in its yogurt pots. Until recently, the plastic inner pot was made of polystyrene but it is now made of 60 per cent recycled PET, known as r-PET. “Using recycled plastic saves energy and so reduces the carbon footprint […]
Boxing clever
Cereal boxes are being phased out in favour of plastic bags as part of a new scheme being pioneered by Sainsbury’s. According to the supermarket giant, its decision to start selling own brand cereals in recyclable plastic bags resembling crisp packets will reduce packaging by up to a third. It has already started the transformation […]
Harrison Europac reveals new name
Harrison Europac, a supplier of plastics trays and containers to the food industry, has announced that it is now operating as Faerch Plast Ltd. Harrison Europac has operated as a joint venture with majority shareholder Faerch Plast A/S for 20 years. Last year the Danish-based company purchased the remaining 20 per cent stake in Harrison […]