Packages recycled materials, safety

In the USA, there are also no specific decrees or directives for packaging made from recycled materials. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published some basic information about the conditions of use of recycled plastics in food packaging applications (US FDA 1992). This information is based on current legislation in the USA and has the backing of American industry (US NFPA 1995). The safety and quality assurance principles involved here concern three fundamental elements ... 

Identification of the materials of construction (i.e., plastics, paper, metal, glass, elastomers, coatings, adhesives, and other such materials) should be identified by a specific product designation (code name and/or code number) and the source (name of the manufacturer) alternate materials of construction should be indicated postconsumer recycled plastic should not be used in the manufacture of a primary packaging component, and if it is used for a secondary or associated component, then the safety and compatibility of the material for its intended use should be addressed appropriately... 

Laoubi S. Feigenbaum A and Vergnaud J M, 1995, Safety of Recycled Plastics for Food Contact Materials Testing to Define a Functional Barrier. Packaging Technology and Science 8,17-27. 

It is generally known that only a very limited number of packaging materials such as glass or metal provide absolute protection properties concerning the penetration of chemical compounds from layers behind or from the environment. In the case of multi-layers with plastics materials as functional barriers there occurs, in most cases to a certain extent, an unavoidable mass transfer from the plastics layers into the product. This must be understood as a functional quantity which, however, must comply with food regulations. Therefore it is necessary firstly to understand functional barrier characteristics and mechanisms and, secondly, to define the functional barrier efficiency in relation to food safety and to establish appropriate test methods. This is especially important with those food packaging applications where recycled plastics are covered by plastics functional barriers. 

R. FRANZ, Programme on the recyclability of food packaging materials with respect to food safety considerations - Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), paper board and plastics covered by functional barriers. Food Additives and Contaminants, 2002, 19(snpplement), 93-110. 

In principle, it makes no sense to collect waste streams separately, unless suitable outlets are secured for such flows. This seems the case for soiled and mixed plastic packaging wastes, since these cannot be reprocessed to any better materials than those that substitute low-grade wood and since the option of feedstock recycling is operating at a huge economic loss. Moreover, no serious health, toxicity, or safety problems become apparent in case of less strict collection requirements. 

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