Recycled and re‐used plastics for food packaging?

The draft European Commission directive on packaging and packaging waste sets ambitious targets for recovery and states that recycle must contribute an important part of recovery. To meet these targets, there will inevitably be pressure to recycle plastics back into food contact uses. This legislative driving force is coupled with considerable consumer pressure. However, it must be accepted that there will be many, perhaps even a majority, of food applications where recycle or re-use of plastics is not desirable and these plastics must be put to alternative uses. Protection of the environment must not be at the expense of public health. This paper outlines the issues involved and describes a multi-centre European project that aims to define criteria to ensure the quality and safety-in-use of recovered plastics for food contact.