Towards Safe Food Contact Materials in a Toxic-Free Circular Economy

FCMs, such as storage containers, factory equipment, kitchen utensils and food packaging, can come into contact with our food during the supply chain. These materials expose us to more than 8,000 different chemicals, many of which can harm our health and leach into the environment. Only a fraction of these chemicals have been assessed to determine their potential impacts. This policy briefing examines the potential risks that FCMs pose to human health and the environment, specifically focusing on food packaging, and suggests ambitious reforms to the EU policy framework in order to create safe, cost-efficient and reusable packaging that protects our health and the environment in a circular economy.