Californian packaging suppliers, manufacturers and distributors face a crackdown after research revealed two-thirds of packaging in the state contains dangerous levels of heavy metals.
A new report by the National Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse found the presence of four restricted heavy metals – lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium – in various packaging materials.
The most heavy metals were found in flexible polyvinylchloride heavy-duty plastic packaging, with 61% of samples containing excessive levels of cadmium or lead.
Ink and colourants used on plastic shopping and mailing bags were the next most frequent materials found to be over the legal limits and high levels of restricted metals were most often found in packaging originating in Asia.
In response to the findings, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control will introduce an outreach programme, designed to educate manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, with the goal of eliminating heavy metals in consumer packaging.
California is one of 19 US states to set limits on the concentration of heavy metals in packaging materials, in an attempt to prevent toxic heavy metals entering the environment through landfills, waste incineration or recycling streams.
Source: packaging-technology
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