Pack news of the week: Sustainable packaging and printing ink migration

"The trend is there. But what is sustainable packaging?"

But what is really challenging is that, in addition to the aims of reducing our own environmental footprint, we have set aims to help our customers reduce their footprint by 2015. For example, we have as an objective to sell 2 billion dollars worth of technologies and new materials to help reduce CO2 emissions or to save energy. We also want to double revenues which are not related to the use of fossil fuels by 2015. And for example, we are investing in R & D consequently in renewably-sourced materials. At DuPont, sustainability is not perceived as a constraint or a necessity but it is an integral part of our mission and strategy. It is a real growth engine.

Each type of packaging should be considered on a case by case basis, bearing in mind the following:

• Packaging performances: to protect and preserve products but also respect the aesthetic and deluxe aspect which help sell the product and meet consumer expectations.
• Environmental Impact: to reduce the impact on environment, one must be aware of the source of materials from which it originates, of its production process and to the packaging’s optimal end of life.
• Economic equation: optimize or reduce costs.

EFSA to examine safety of non-plastic food contact materials

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has set up an expert panel to evaluate the safety of non-plastic food contact materials such as inks and adhesives.

The EFSA scientific cooperation (ESCO) working group has been formed in response a number of episodes in the last few years involving the migration of non-plastic contact materials into food - particularly chemicals in printing inks such as ITX, 4-methylbenzophenone and benzophenone said the body. The most high profile of these related to the tainting of breakfast cereal after packaging ink 4-methylbenzophenone leached into the food. The incidents prompted a Europe-wide investigation.

The food safety watchdog said that at present there are no specific regulations for non-plastic food contact substances.

“Whilst EU rules specify that all materials coming into contact with foods must be safe, many non-plastic components of food contact materials - unlike plastic materials - are not subject to specific provisions at the European level”, said an EFSA statement.

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