Reducing the impact of plastic on our environment - moving away from hard-to-recycle and single-use items
The Waste Minimisation (Plastic and Related Products) Amendment Regulations 2022 (the Regulations) were finalised on 28 November 2022, giving effect to the second tranche of proposals that phase out problematic single-use and hard-to-recycle plastic items over three tranches. The Tranche 2 proposals entered into force on 1 July 2023.
Impact Statement: “The Regulations set the requirement for produce labels (i.e., fruit and vegetable stickers) to be home-compostable (i.e., the label must meet specified certifications in the regulations) with a phased entry for imported produce. Labels applied to domestically grown produce for sale on the New Zealand market were required to be home compostable as of 1 July 2023. This effective date excluded the adhesive (glue) which is required to be home compostable by 1 July 2025. With a view to minimising the effect on trade, labels applied to imported produce for sale on the New Zealand market were to be home compostable (including the label adhesive (glue)) by mid-2025. The date for all produce sold in New Zealand to have certified home compostable labels (including its adhesive) will now be extended to 1 July 2028 to align with manufacturer readiness and similar international regulations.” Thus, businesses that manufacture fruit and vegetable stickers meant for the New Zealand market need to take note of the new compliance dates.
Canada Consults on Guidelines for Environmental Claims - Greenwashing
THIS REPORT CONTAINS ASSESSMENTS OF COMMODITY AND TRADE ISSUES MADE BY USDA STAFF AND NOT NECESSARILY STATEMENTS OF OFFICIAL U.S. GOVERNMENT POLICY
Following up on an initial round of public consultations related to new greenwashing provisions in Canada’s Competition Act (for details, please see GAIN Report CA2024-0032), the Competition Bureau announced it is seeking public feedback on newly developed guidance regarding environmental claims. The decisions of the Commissioner and the ultimate resolution of issues will depend on the particular circumstances of the matter in question.
Impact Statement: Nearly every region around the world is working to combat greenwashing. These are claims made by companies that say their company or product provides a benefit to the environment in some way. These environmental claims, if challenged, will need to be supported by data. Prior to adding environmental claims to a product, the company should make sure to complete its due diligence and make sure they have the supporting data in place in the event of a challenge. The new guidance document on claims is available for review and comment until 28 February 2025. A link to the document itself is provided within this notice from the USDA.
New Review Highlights Human Health Risks from Microplastic Exposure
In summary, this review used state of the art and transparent methodology to evaluate the evidence linking microplastics exposure to human health effects. After reviewing over 2,800 studies retrieved
from the database searches, we ultimately identified 28 rodent studies and 3 human studies for inclusion in our review. I was happy to join co-authors from UCSF’s Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment on a recently published review that evaluated the evidence linking exposure to microplastics to human health harms. We conducted a rapid systematic review of any studies that investigated health effects related to microplastics exposure. More research should be funded to explore these areas. “Effects of Microplastic Exposure on Human Digestive, Reproductive, and Respiratory Health: A Rapid Systematic Review.”
Impact Statement: My opinion on this is another attack on plastics….it appears to me that the authors “cherry-picked” the studies they used to meet their agenda (31 our of 2800). I would have to think that drawing conclusions like those that were mentioned in this study were very broad-based. For instance, will give them the benefit of the doubt that respiratory issues would be possible, but no more so than that of all the dust we are exposed to in this world. Lungs are made to intake dusts and particles….so any solid matter would be a concern, not just microplastics. So, I would be aware of this study, but look at it skeptically as fitting the agenda of the NRDC.