EC loosens plastic food-contact rules

The European Commission (EC) agreed in principle to reduce the amount of toxicological testing required for plastics additives in food packaging. The reason?

Cecelia BlalockWashington Correspondent

Mar 31st, 1996

It seems that the medium to high molecular weight of many plastic additives prevent them from migrating into food, according to a petition furnished to an EC scientific committee by a European chemical trade group. Specific EC testing requirements for additives are expected shortly. Meanwhile, the EC is moving ahead on harmonization of plastic food packaging laws which vary from country to country. An EC committee has approved ten new additives and three monomers for plastic food-contact applications without any restrictions or other specifications. Also, the authorization period for monomers on a so-called "temporarily permitted" list has been extended to 2002.

The biopolymer tube is being used for Spotlight’s line of five toothpaste varieties, each formulated for a specific concern.

Spotlight on Sugarcane-Based Toothpaste Tube

Free-from oral care company Spotlight meets its goal of providing 100% recyclable packaging for its line of toothpaste, using biopolymer tubes made from sugarcane-based polyethylene.

The circular system for UPM RafCycle’s LabelLoop portfolio of labels is shown here.

Circular Label System Assists Baker with Zero-Waste Goals

As a way to help meet its ambitious zero-waste commitments, FGF Brands joins a label liner recycling program that collects and recycles waste liner for incorporation into new label facestock.

Michelman Packcon And Ifca Awards News Release High Resolution Image

Michelman Wins Innovative Packaging Materials Award

Michelman's Michem® Coat 525 received a Silver Award for Innovative Packaging Materials at China's 2021 PACKCON Star Awards.

Included in the line are three clean-ingredient, vegan deodorant varieties—Cucumber Sage, Citrus Vetiver, and Coconut Jasmine—a body balm stick in a Coconut Pineapple scent, and a body lotion stick in Lavender Coconut.

Grove Collaborative is First with Plastic-Free Refillable Deodorant Pack

Company expands its Peach line of clean, vegan personal care products with deodorant and body lotion packaged in a 100% aluminum ‘forever case’ with refills in 100% aluminum cartridges.

Clearlake Capital to Acquire Mold-Rite

Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. signed a definitive agreement to acquire Mold-Rite Plastics, LLC from Irving Place Capital.

Zambelli, simple yet special

Zambelli, simple yet special

A streamlined flow of packaging material and an efficient environment for your operators. Do you want to know how? Read about Zambelli's solution.

Labels on Amerex Corp.’s line of hand, portable, and wheeled fire extinguishers provide critical instructions on the type of fire the unit is designed to handle and how to operate the device.

Label Precision is Paramount for Fire Extinguisher Products

Even though consumers hope they never have to use Amerex's products, if needed, the company’s fire extinguishers must be ready to go, with durable labels that provide clear instructions and certification that the product meets critical UL standards.

Pregis Grand Rapids

Pregis Invests Additional $32 Million in Michigan Facility

The latest investment will be used to expand the current Grand Rapids blown film extrusion facility by adding an additional 55,000 sq ft for manufacturing, warehousing, and office space.

BIC Transforms its Approach to Plastic Products & Packaging

New sustainability goals around its use of plastic drive BIC to look at new options for products and packaging, including a greater use of recycled materials, a move from plastic to paperboard, and refillable and reusable alternatives.

Noice natural gel toothpaste comes in an amber glass bottle with reusable pump dispenser. Refills use a screw-top closure.

Reusable, Recyclable Glass Toothpaste Bottle is ‘Noice’

Noice Care offers its natural toothpaste in an amber glass bottle with a reusable pump dispenser for D2C; a reusable, refillable glass bottle is available through the Loop shopping platform.

Lidding Technology for Combination Products

Amcor launches a proprietary healthcare lidding technology designed for use with combination products—those consisting of two or more regulated components (device, drug, or biologic).

Zambelli, simple yet special

Zambelli, simple yet special

A streamlined flow of packaging material and an efficient environment for your operators. Do you want to know how? Read about Zambelli's solution.

The new 100% recycled-content lid now had a longer front flap, providing more billboard space.

‘Cluckin’ Great’ Egg Carton Redesign

Vital Farms increases the sustainability of its shell-egg packaging, with a new carton that uses 100% recycled content for both the molded pulp base and the paperboard lid.

Vital Farms’ Egg Bites use a unique packaging and processing approach, baking the product in-pack prior to MAP sealing.

As Café-Hatched Egg Bites Hit Retail Shelves, Vital Farms Reimagines Pack Design, Function

The foodservice channel gave us the egg bites trend with sous vide, but Vital Farms advanced it with a new retail pack format allowing for in-pack baking in CPET trays at the production facility. Consumers simply microwave the MAP trays at home.

Sacred Serve gelato is available in Matcha Mint Chip, Chaga Chocolate, Coconut Salted Caramel, and Saffron Chai Spice varieties.

Emerging Brand Debuts First 100% Recyclable Ice Cream Carton

Sacred Serve plant-based gelato uses a unique paperboard ice cream carton design that is now made from 100% virgin, food-safe paperboard and a food-safe, water-based barrier coating.

Glass Airless Packaging

Baralan introduces Developing the Evolution of Airless (DEA), a series of products composed of glass airless containers designed for several applications.

Collaborations Expand Paper Packaging’s Potentials

“Imagine that all plastic packaging in your store one day has disappeared, and eventually all glass bottles and metal cans; that all packages are made of renewable materials that can be recycled or returned to nature without harm.”

Paper Tube Whiskey Pack Leaps Off the Shelf

Named for a pioneering species of Irish toad, the folks at Natterjack Irish Whiskey and Gortinore Distillers & Co. tend to do things differently.

Pinnacle Packaging CEO Nicole DeJoris Receives Daily Herald Business Ledger’s 2021 C-Suite Award

DeJoris was one of 20 suburban business leaders who received the award that honors C-level executives for the leadership, business, and civic contributions they have made to their organizations and to the suburban Chicago community.

Ball to Build Aluminum Beverage Packaging Plants in UK & Russia

Ball Corp. will significantly increase its beverage packaging manufacturing with plants in Western Russia and the East Midlands, UK, adding billions of cans per year.

More in Materials & containers

The Face + Body natural sunscreen tube in sugarcane bio-resin replaces Raw Elements’ previous plastic tube, which was made with PCR.

Sugarcane Tubes Sweeten Sustainability Profile

The Face + Body natural sunscreen tube in sugarcane bio-resin replaces Raw Elements’ previous plastic tube, which was made with PCR.

TricorBraun Acquires SGB Packaging Group

TricorBraun acquired SGB Packaging Group, Inc., strengthening its presence in the cosmetics, skin care, fragrance, and personal care industries. Effective with the acquisition, SGB Packaging will operate as SGB Packaging, a TricorBraun company.

Pulpex is the world’s first widely recyclable, brandable paper bottle

Solenis Collaborates with Pulpex to Scale Eco-friendly, PET-free Paper Bottle

Pulpex is the world’s first widely recyclable, brandable paper bottle; the eco-friendly paper bottle is designed to hold a wide range of liquids.

Pregis South Carolina Plant

Pregis Establishing Operations in Anderson County

Pregis is investing $80 million in a new, state-of-the-art blown film extrusion facility in Anderson, SC.

With the SeaWell system, trays are thermoformed with cavities into which a GRAS technology blend is dropped and secured with a heat-sealed piece of nonwoven fabric.

Active Packaging Technology Improves Seafood Safety, Shelf Life

SeaWell Protective Active Packaging from Aptar Food + Beverage – Food Protection integrates technology that keeps excess liquid from accumulating around the seafood, reducing bacterial growth, preserving quality, and improving consumer perception.

Pat Reynolds 2016 Official

Nestlé Pushing Sustainability

Two bottles from Nestlé caught my eye this month.

The stainless steel belt of the LasX digital laser system (A) delivers cut parts to the Dorner vacuum conveyor belt (B), which in turn deposits them on the Dorner discharge conveyor belt (C).

Digital Printing Upgrade and a Second Digital Laser Cutter

This Wisconsin producer of both in-mold and pressure-sensitive labels upped its game in 2020 with systems that have enabled the firm to get into the flexible films market.

WestRock CEO David Sewell to Keynote at SuperCorrExpo 2021

TAPPI and AICC, co-producers of SuperCorrExpo (SCE) 2021, announced that David Sewell, Chief Executive Officer of WestRock Co. will be a keynote speaker.

Emballator Emsense 2021

Lightweight Food Container

The Emsense recyclable container for food applications from Emballator features a reduction in plastics by approximately 30%.

This gusseted wraparound carton format is favored by some retailers over traditional plastic can handle formats.

Goslings Adopts Paperboard Wraparound Carton for Improved Appearance, Sustainability Profile, and Retail Function

This gusseted multipack format is less expensive than fully enclosed packs, while providing brand-endorsed billboard space, retailer-approved can retention, and consumer-favored sustainability bona fides. Co-packer Polar Beverages automated the process.

Each consortium company has successfully manufactured sample bottles, based on Carbios’ enzymatic PET recycling technology, for some of their leading products.

Global Brands Pilot Bottles Made Using ‘Transformational’ Recycling Technology

L’Oréal, Nestlé Waters, PepsiCo, and Suntory Beverage & Food Europe pilot the world’s first food-grade PET plastic bottles produced entirely from enzymatically recycled plastic.

Recyclable Ovenable, Microwaveable Tray

Graphic Packaging launches the dual-ovenable PaperSeal Cook tray designed for oven- and microwave-ready chilled and frozen food applications.