**Update: MEPs voted to reject the Commission's proposal to allow higher levels of lead in recycled PVC on Wednesday 12th February, with 394 votes for, 241 votes against and 13 abstentions** Some PVC plastic waste - for example from old PVC window frames - contains lead, a well-known health hazard which is no longer used in new PVC produced in the EU. This has led to … [Read more...] about MEPs to vote on contaminated PVC recycling – A clean or a dirty circular economy for Europe?
Circular Economy
UK MPs back CHEM Trust’s priorities in new report on Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Life
Today, the UK Parliament's Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) published a new report on 'Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Life' following its inquiry into the subject. The EAC declare that "current regulation does not account for the cocktail of chemicals we are exposed to", and that hazardous chemicals are now "ubiquitous in humans and the environment". The committee makes a wide … [Read more...] about UK MPs back CHEM Trust’s priorities in new report on Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Life
Hazardous chemicals in plastic packaging: an initial analysis
CHEM Trust has joined an important collaboration of NGOs and academic scientists looking at the topical and crucial issue of hazardous chemicals in plastic packaging. As we all know, use of plastic packaging is increasing globally, causing environmental and human health concerns. In 2015 annual plastic production was 380Mt, of which about 40 per cent was used in packaging, … [Read more...] about Hazardous chemicals in plastic packaging: an initial analysis
EU announces plan to restrict plastic microbeads and oxo-degradable plastics
Today, the 16th January 2018, the EU Commission released its long-expected Plastics Strategy. The Strategy includes an announcement that the Commission has started the process to ban both intentionally added microplastics and oxo-degradable plastics. Both these bans will be implemented as Restrictions under the EU's main chemicals law REACH. The Commission also announced a a … [Read more...] about EU announces plan to restrict plastic microbeads and oxo-degradable plastics
Chemicals and the Circular Economy
A Circular Economy is an important component of a future-focussed, sustainable, economy. However, chemicals can disrupt this circular economy, for example where banned chemicals are present in a product that is to be recycled (e.g. furniture). CHEM Trust has been concerned about this issue for some years, and we have been very involved in the European Commission's review of … [Read more...] about Chemicals and the Circular Economy