HBCDD in polystyrene packaging: A downside of recycling?

While there are no regulatory fire safety obligations for polystyrene (PS) when used as packaging material, concerns exist that such packaging material may contain the flame retardant hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) as a result of uncontrolled recycling activities. To evaluate these concerns, researchers at the University of Birmingham UK collected samples of PS packaging materials.
HBCDD was detected in 90% of samples, with concentrations in 4 samples exceeding the EU's low POP concentration limit (LPCL) of 0.1% above which articles may not be recycled. Moreover, 2 further samples contained HBCDD >0.01%. An article about the research is published in Chemosphere.
Click here for an abstract of the article.
Click here for more information about the Live Online NVC E-Workshop Food Contact Materials Legislation.
Click here for more information about the NVC Project PUMA: the end of packaging as an environmental issue.

This news item is also included in our monthly overview, the NVC Members-only Update. If you have any questions, please contact us: info@nvc.nl, +31-(0)182-512411.