Microplastics, which research suggests could be harmful to human health, are well-known infiltrators of a wide variety of food and beverages. Now, researchers have found that nanoplastics, the even smaller offspring of microplastics, are present in stratospheric...
The European Parliament has adopted its position on new EU packaging rules: which could see a raft of long-term changes for drinks packaging. The reaction from the European alcohol industry is mixed.
The European Parliament has voted in favour of banning BPA and ‘forever chemicals’ in food packaging, and MEPs want to eliminate ‘less necessary’ packaging such as very lightweight plastic carrier bags. But the plastic industry is concerned the vote is...
Packaging multinational Mondi has partnered with Swedish dairy co-op Skånemejerier to launch new mono-material packaging that's easy to sort and recycle.
Although efforts show progress on plastic pollution is possible, the world is ‘not on course’ to eliminating plastic waste and pollution, stresses the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
If relevant stakeholders – from government to industry and consumers – play their part, recyclability can be improved and plastic pollution eliminated, believes NGO WRAP.
Part of its strategy includes exploring alternative plastic materials, but the company wants to make sure new solutions don’t end up having a worse impact on the environment. “It’s a complicated puzzle, but it’s one we’re committed to solving,” Rashida...
On 1 October 2023, the UK will ban single-use plastics, with the guidance having been released on 23 May. The EU have also released wide-ranging guidance on plastics.
Meet Xampla, the British company innovating solutions for two separate industry challenges: plastic pollution and the protection of valuable vitamins and nutrients. Food-Navigator Europe caught up with Stanley Mitchell, Head of Business Development at...
Melodea Ltd., an Israeli green tech company, has just launched VBseal, its new sustainable packaging that is not only resistant to water vapour and oil but has heat-sealing properties.
An anti-plastic campaign group has questioned the effectiveness of Sainsbury’s announcement that it is swapping traditional, plastic tray packaging for a new vacuum-packed alternative across its beef mince range, saving 450 tonnes of plastic annually.
DMF is recyclable, less energy-intensive to produce, and has already been utilized as an alternative to single-use plastics. But the material had never been used in beverage packaging – until now.
The bosses of Arla Foods UK, Müller Milk and Ingredients, and First Milk heard that British dairy needs to adopt a careful approach to its consumer messaging if the sector’s sustainability efforts are to be recognized by shoppers.
Bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics are often considered as the environmental heroes taking on conventional plastic – but the European Commission says such formats need to be approached carefully if they’re to live up to their promise.
Spain's Bio2Coat is hoping to solve the twin problems of food waste and plastic waste coming from packaging materials with a 100% natural, edible coating that extends shelf-life of fruits and vegetables and a 100% natural, edible packaging material...
Signatories to the Global Commitment and Plastic Pact – which includes more than 20 packaged food and beverage producers – are unlikely to all meet 2025 targets designed to ‘tackle plastic pollution at its source’.
Mars Inc has unveiled what it describes as a ‘key milestone’ in its commitment to transition towards a circular economy model where packaging material ‘never becomes waste’. FoodNavigator takes a closer look at the collaboration and technology behind...
Environmental finance provider RePurpose Global has launched the Plastic Reality Project, a first of its kind initiative dedicated to ‘upskilling’ corporate leaders with ‘knowledge and experiences’ to help shape their plastic reduction efforts. Hot on...
With most consumers now horrified by excess plastic packaging, supermarket giant Tesco has scrapped multipacks completely for its own label drinks. Does this signal the beginning of the end for the multipack format?
The Israeli biodegradable plastic packaging specialist has unveiled an innovative compostable film – which acts as a laminate for the so-called ‘caustic’ properties of salty snacks – at London Packaging Week.
Packaging manufacturer Huhtamaki is investing in the sustainable packaging fund established by Emerald Technology Ventures. The hope is to uncover ‘next generation sustainable packaging solutions’.
In research organised by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology Food community (EIT FOOD), academics looked to eliminate the shortcomings of ordinary takeaway packaging.
The quest for ever more eco-friendly packaging in the food and beverage industry is often done ‘without consideration for the effect on overall recyclability’, FoodNavigator hears.
The UK-based manufacturer has joined the growing number of big food producers – including Mondelez, Nestle, retailers Tesco and Aldi and foodservice operators Compass Group and Sodexo, among others – that have pledged to use 100% cage-free eggs across...
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has announced plans to spin out a new company, Olefy Technologies, which it claims can convert most of the world’s waste plastics back into virgin grade materials an infinite number of times.
Nestlé-owned mineral water brand Buxton has delivered on its 2019 commitment to switch to recycled PET plastic (rPET) in the UK. We caught up with Hayley Lloyd House, Nestlé Waters UK Head of Corporate of Affairs and Sustainability, to find out how this...
Broken-down microplastics have been found in blue mussels and water within the intertidal zone at some in southern Australia’s, sparking fears they are now finding their way into food supplies.
IGD has published a new report to help the food and consumer goods industry drive progress towards the shared ambition of halving the environmental impact of the UK packaging system by 2030.
The founder of UK-based ‘super natural’ chewing gum start-up Milliways is also calling for a single-use plastic levy to make it easier for consumers to switch to a ‘more sustainable’ option.
Amongst FMCGs, governments, and consumers, who is responsible for turning the tide on plastic pollution? FoodNavigator asks Coca-Cola Europacific Partners GB, NGO A Plastic Planet, and plastic alternative start-up Sulapac, for their takes on the plastic...
The FoodNavigator Podcast speaks to the Consumer Goods Forum about what the food and beverage industry is doing to tackle plastic pollution and work towards a future free from plastic waste.
Plastic particles are ubiquitous pollutants in the living environment and food chain. For the first time, scientists evaluated the internal exposure of plastic particles in human blood.
PepsiCo is already hitting notable milestones and reaping financial benefits from its ambitious pep+ plan announced last fall that places sustainability at the center of how the CPG giant says it will create value and drive growth, according to CEO Ramon...
Five of Europe’s largest food manufacturers have formed the Flexible Packaging Initiative, a joint scheme to promote circularity in flexible packaging.
The world is producing twice the amount of plastic as it did two decades ago and most of it is ending up in landfill, incinerated or leaking into the environment, according to a new report from the OECD.
Coca-Cola has announced that at least 25% of its beverages sold globally across its portfolio will be sold in refillable or returnable packaging by 2030, scaling up initiatives such as its ‘universal bottle’.
By 2030 PepsiCo Europe wants to have eliminated virgin fossil-based plastics from all its chip and crisp bags. FoodNavigator learns more about how the snack giant plans to deliver on this ambition.
A new report from World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has found that principal members in its ReSource: Plastic programme – including The Coca-Cola Co, McDonald’s, Keurig Dr Pepper, Procter & Gamble and Starbucks – cut their use of ‘problematic plastic’ by...
Packaging manufacturer Westpak has unveiled a series of new punnets and tray designs which it claims deliver a manufacturing breakthrough in packaging sustainability and offer grocery retailers and their suppliers a set of commercially viable paper-based...
Danone’s water brand evian has launched a new prototype bottle that leverages what it describes as a ‘revolutionary' new process developed by clean tech company Loop Industries. The business says the bottle marks a ‘significant milestone’ towards...
Major food manufacturing and grocery retail companies that turn a blind eye to the risks related to plastic pollution could face legal action, warns environmental law charity Client Earth.
With less than a year to go until the Plastic Packaging Tax is introduced in the UK, a study by Veolia shows 83% of businesses asked were not even aware of the tax.
Research published in the scientific journal Environmental Science & Technology claims to provide an enlightening but worrying insight into the world of chemicals that are intentionally added to plastics.
