US challenged to regulate on “one of the most hazardous consumer products ever made"

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been hit with a lawsuit alleging a failure to regulate polyvinyl chloride (PVC) as hazardous waste.

The lawsuit, filed by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), comes seven years after the non-profit organisation initially petitioned the EPA to classify PVC as hazardous. The CBD has accused the EPA of ignoring a rulemaking petition about the substance, thereby violating the Resource Conservation & Recovery Act.

“Recent studies reveal that finished PVC products leach significant concentrations of these compounds into the environment as they deteriorate with age, threatening severe biological consequences,” the CBD said.

The organisation’s attorney, Emily Jeffers, added: “PVC is one of the most hazardous consumer products ever made, and the federal government can’t keep ignoring that reality. We have to stop making so much plastic and come up with safer ways to dispose of our plastic pollution.”

DS Smith and Dom-Titan develop cardboard alternative to styrofoam

Slovenia-based security solution provider Dom-Titan has partnered with DS Smith to develop cardboard packaging to replace styrofoam filling.

The new filling, made from sustainably sourced certified paper containing around 80% recycled fibres, has been developed through a process of prototypes tested by Dom-Titan. The packaging has been designed by DS Smith in line with its ‘PackRight’ development methodology.

“We have chosen DS Smith as a partner in the project of circular packaging fillings as they have been supplying us with quality materials for decade,” said Igor Plevel, project author for Dom-Titan. “They choose the right type of material for a specific product and are always ready to participate in creating and developing new packaging solutions.”

DS Smith has pledged to make all its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2030.

Dixons Carphone offers free expanded polystyrene recycling

Dixons Carphone is inviting UK consumers to return packaging for electrical items to their stores for free recycling.

The retail group, which also operates the Currys PC World chain, is expanding a recent trial of the scheme to all of its stores. Consumers can return the packaging initially from new televisions only, although the company “will look to collect different types of expanded polystyrene packaging as consumer demand and uptake increases”.

The drop-off service complements Currys PC World’s longstanding home delivery recycling service, where customers can pay for delivery drivers to take away the packaging for “large domestic appliances”.

“We’re proud to be the first retailer to enable customers to drop off their TV packaging in stores for recycling,” said Dixons Carphone’s senior sustainability operations & compliance manager, Chris Brown. “Now, customers can have their polystyrene taken away at delivery or drop it off at one of our stores. Whatever they choose we’ll take it off their hands and ensure we reuse or recycle it in a responsible way.”

The group also announced in August the commitment to make 100% of its own-label plastic packaging reusable or recyclable by 2023.

Serum Institute of India buys into Schott Kaisha

Serum Institute of India (SII) has acquired half of Schott and Kaisha Manufacturers’ Schott Kaisha joint venture.

The deal sees SII take over as Schott’s partner in India’s pharmaceutical packaging industry. Financial details of the purchase, from Kaisha co-owners Kairus Dadachanji and Shapoor Mistry, were not disclosed.

Founded in 1990 by Kaisha and Germany-headquartered Schott, the JV produces ampoules and vials at its owned facilities in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

SII CEO Adar Poonawalla said: “Securing this supply chain is of strategic importance. Schott is the perfect partner for us to do this because of their expertise and global network.

“As a long-time customer, we use their vials, ampoules and syringes to store our vaccines, including [Indian COVID-19 vaccine] Covishield. Working even closer together is in the best interest of global health.”

Schott CEO Frank Heinricht described the transaction as “is an excellent example of shifting towards new cooperation models, with greater synergies between pharma manufacturing and packaging production”.

Huhtamaki adds Elif to flexible packaging footprint

Finland’s Huhtamaki has agreed to purchase global sustainable flexible packaging supplier Elif for EUR412m (US$483m).

The transaction, which will see Elif absorbed into the group’s flexible packaging operations, is intended to strengthen Huhtamaki’s position in emerging markets. Elif, which has manufacturing facilities in Istanbul and Cairo, supplies flexible packaging made from both post-industrial and post-consumer recycled polymers across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Elif’s sales in 2020 totalled around $195m.

“With a great portfolio, a strong focus on sustainability and high growth ambitions, Elif is a perfect fit for Huhtamaki,” said CEO Charles Héaulmé. “We are impressed by Elif’s focus on its customers, with decades of strategic partnerships with blue-chip multinational companies … .”

Elif’s CEO, Selçuk Yarangűmelioğlu, added: “Under new ownership, we will continue to deliver sustainable solutions to our customer base globally, enhance our focus on fast-growing emerging markets, realise synergies through scale and expand our capabilities.”

India to ban certain single-use plastic items next year

The Government of India has announced a ban on the production, sale and use of a number of single-use plastic items from next July.

The Environment, Forest & Climate Change Ministry has tabled the ‘Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules 2021’, which target items with ‘low utility and high littering potential’. Single-use plastic products that will be banned include plates, cups, glasses, cutlery and stirrers, as well as plastic or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) banners less than 100 microns thick.

The move also covers earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic flags and sticks for balloons, confectionery and ice cream, as well as polystyrene for decoration.

“Pollution due to single-use plastic items has become an important environmental challenge confronting all countries,” the Ministry said. “India is committed to taking action for mitigation of pollution caused by littered single-use plastics.

The legislation, which builds on the ‘Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016’, will also increase the thickness of plastic carrier bags nationwide from 50 microns to 75 microns from next month. This will be further raised to 120 microns from the end of December 2022.