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The China National Light Industry Council (CNLIC) published the Guidance on Classification and Labeling of Degradable Plastic Products on September 8, 2020. This industrial association’s Guidance is in response to the Notice on Further Enhancing Plastic Pollution Control in January 2020. (For more information on that Notice, see the PackagingLaw.com article, China Continues Efforts to Ban and Limit Use of Plastic Products.)

The German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture has notified the latest draft of its Mineral Oil Ordinance to the European Commission (EC). The updated version requires the use of a functional barrier in paper, paperboard or cardboard food contact materials containing recycled paper to prevent the transfer of mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) to food. A transfer is deemed not to take place if it can be demonstrated that the following are not exceeded:

 

California legislators approved Assembly Bill 793 that will require all plastic bottles covered by the state’s container redemption program to average at least 15% post-consumer recycled resin starting in 2022.

China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOC) published a Notice, titled, Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control in Business Fields, on August 31. The Notice stipulates that local authorities shall facilitate the establishment of a centralized purchase and sale system for shopping bags in grocery markets.

A recently released study conducted by Atlanta-based paper company WestRock CP, LLC investigated several aspects of the recycling of post-consumer pizza boxes. The study points out that approximately 3 billion pizza boxes are used each year in the U.S.; however, grease and cheese contamination of the boxes has been thought to impact their viability for recycling.

Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE) recently published a report on annual production, use, and recycling of flexible plastics in the European Union (EU). The report, Flexible Films Market in Europe: State of Play, identifies the key challenges to increasing the level of recycling of flexible plastics in the EU, in addition to providing suggestions to support the growth of the industry.

Clearer communication of sustainability efforts with regards to plastic packaging are needed to help con­sumers make better decisions and lead the way to a more circular plastics economy. This is among the conclusions of a joint report from the United National Environment Programme (UNEP), Consumers International, and One Planet, titled “Can I Recycle This?” A Global Mapping and Assessment of Standards, Labels and Claims on Plastic Packaging.

Aluminum, glass and plastic (PET) industries have reached out to states with beverage container deposit programs requesting that safe redemption return options be made available for consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic and that consumers be informed of these options through updated online resources.