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AuthorGerassimidou, Spyridoula
AuthorGeueke, Birgit
AuthorGroh, Ksenia J.
AuthorMuncke, Jane
AuthorHahladakis, John N.
AuthorMartin, Olwenn V.
AuthorIacovidou, Eleni
Available date2023-05-16T09:07:33Z
Publication Date2023
Publication NameJournal of Hazardous Materials
ResourceScopus
ISSN3043894
URIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131422
URIhttp://hdl.handle.net/10576/42801
AbstractPolyethylene (PE) is the most widely used type of plastic food packaging, in which chemicals can potentially migrate into packaged foods. The implications of using and recycling PE from a chemical perspective remain underexplored. This study is a systematic evidence map of 116 studies looking at the migration of food contact chemicals (FCCs) across the lifecycle of PE food packaging. It identified a total of 377 FCCs, of which 211 were detected to migrate from PE articles into food or food simulants at least once. These 211 FCCs were checked against the inventory FCCs databases and EU regulatory lists. Only 25% of the detected FCCs are authorized by EU regulation for the manufacture of food contact materials. Furthermore, a quarter of authorized FCCs exceeded the specific migration limit (SML) at least once, while one-third (53) of non-authorised FCCs exceeded the threshold value of 10 μg/kg. Overall, evidence on FCCs migration across the PE food packaging lifecycle is incomplete, especially at the reprocessing stage. Considering the EU’s commitment to increase packaging recycling, a better understanding and monitoring of PE food packaging quality from a chemical perspective across the entire lifecycle will enable the transition towards a sustainable plastics value chain.
SponsorThe authors would like to express their gratitude to the Food Packaging Forum (FPF) for their support in compiling this systematic evidence map. This study was funded by Brunel University London as part of the Brunel Research Initiative & Enterprise Fund (BRIEF) award No. 11683100 , in the context of the ' Closing the Plastic Food Packaging Loop ' project.
Languageen
PublisherElsevier
SubjectFood contact chemicals (FCCs)
Migration
Packaging design
PE food packaging
Plastic packaging
Sustainability
TitleUnpacking the complexity of the polyethylene food contact articles value chain: A chemicals perspective
TypeArticle Review
Volume Number454
dc.accessType Open Access


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