More research is needed to prove the safety of products utilising nanotechnology, including packaging applications, UK Environment Minister Phil Woolas says.
The British Government published its second report on nanotechnology shortly before Christmas, which says the amount of work required to fill the gaps in understanding potential technology risks is "very large".
Government departments will have been given £10m between 2005 and 2008 to research nanotechnology, but the report says there is a need for longer-term research into the toxicity, health, environmental impacts and "environmental fate" of nanomaterials.
The government plans to introduce a labelling scheme for products containing nanaoparticles and UK national standards for their safe handling, disposal and specification.
Nanotechnology involves using a substance in particles that are so small that the substance takes on new properties.
NEW HOME-COMPOSTABLE LOGO FOR 2008
The UK's Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) says an on-pack home-compostable logo could be available for compostable packaging during the first half of 2008.
At present the EN13432 European compostable packaging standard is under review because it is more suitable for industrial composting as it requires temperatures of 58ºC to biodegrade and is therefore not an a appropriate measure for domestic composting.
The Composting Association is reviewing the standard with WRAP and the UK Compostable Packaging Group.
"There are issue that are taking time to work through, such as technical criteria, producer obligations for recovery of packaging waste and potential collaboration with established packaging certification schemes in other European Union countries," Composting Association technical manager Emily Nicholls says.
It is expected the new logo will be distinguishable from the current 'seedling' logo, currently used to denote compostability, which is owned by European Bioplastics.
FIBRE BOX OFFER SHIPPERS 'BEST BOX' GUIDE
The US Fibre Box Association has launched a brochure guide to help shippers choose the appropriate corrugated boxes for their products.
The brochure provides detailed information on what a corrugated manufacturer needs to know to design the best package for a product, as well as an explanation of the common performance tests required for different shipping scenarios, Fibre Box Association spokeswoman Stephanie Maegdlin says.
The How to Get the Best Box guide is the first time such information has been brought together in one place for the industry, she says.
The brochure also features a 'Need-to-Know' detachable checklist with information about the product, set up and packing, distribution and storage, marketing considerations and regulatory issues.
Source: packaging-technology
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment