Plastic Additives
Plastic additives are substances applied into plastic material to improve its properties and enhance the manufacturing process. All plastic objects contain additives in amounts of a few units in weight percentage. Although useful, throughout the life cycle of plastic material, these additives may be released into the environment, with the potential to disrupt ecosystems, and enter the human food chain. The complex and diverse chemical nature of plastic additives makes it difficult to regulate them and the partial lack of comprehensive environmental data hinders accurate risk assessments. There is a need to ensure that these additives are chemically safe for humans and the environment, as well as to improve regulations and public awareness, encouraging responsible consumption.
Chemicals in plastics overview
Description of the challenge
- Chemical additives are needed to produce plastic materials. All plastics carry functional additives to be resistant, flexible, colored, or not flammable. Most additives are not chemically bonded to the polymer chains, and they are easily released into the surrounding environment. Some functional additives, such as heavy metals and phthalates, have been restricted in many applications due to their toxicity. Others, like bisphenols and benzophenones, are increasingly scrutinized for their potential to disrupt hormonal functions.
- The incorporation of chemical additives into recycled products presents challenges, as these substances can limit the applicability of recycled products for the next life cycle. The recycling process is not directly affected by additives, but the use or application of a recycled product containing additives from former plastic products could be affected.
- The composition of plastic materials in terms of chemical additives is not disclosed. Mandatory disclosure of the qualitative composition of commercialized plastic products is crucial for transparency, as it would empower consumers to make informed choices and support improved end-of-life management and circularity in the plastic industry.
- Addressing the complex and potential impacts of plastic additives underscores the urgent need for further research to gain a more comprehensive understanding. This understanding is the basis for implementing meaningful regulations and developing innovative and sustainable new plastics.
Main policy challenges
Source: United Nations Environment Programme and Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (2023). Chemicals in plastics: a technical report. Geneva
Anatomy of plastics
MONOMERS AND
POLYMERS Constitute main building
blocks of plastic material
BREAKDOWN Most widely produced plastics additives
ADDITIVES Bring desired functionality to the
plastic material
Plasticizers
To make plastic softer and flexible
OTHER INTENTIONALLY
ADDED SUBSTANCES
Such as starting materials and catalysts
Fillers
That occupy space without changing functional properties
Flame retardants
To reduce flammability and prevent
spread of fire
NON-INTENTIONALLYADDED SUBSTANCES Such as solvents, cleaning agents, or impurities from manufacturing or recycling
Other
Including colorants, antioxidants, heat and light stabilizers, lubricants, biocides or antistatic agents
Policy Recommendations
Enforce transparency
Strengthen regulatory frameworks
Address legacy substances
Foster safer alternatives
Encourage complementary studies and assessments
Promote public awareness
Ensure biodegradable plastic safety
Relevance to Legislation
- Circular Economy Action Plan. Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals
- Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability “Human biomonitoring studies in the EU point to a growing number of different hazardous chemicals in human blood and body tissue, including certain pesticides, biocides, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, plasticisers and flame retardants.”
- Global Action on Plastics
- Packaging Waste (check Law and Publications tabs) – Revision of the Packing and Packaging Waste Directive
- Microplastics (Waste Framework Directive)
- Single-Use Plastics Directive
- RoHS Directive (Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment)
- The Stockholm Convention
- Guidelines of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
FOLLOW US
- The composition of plastic materials is often undisclosed due to intellectual property agreements and a lack of full transparency from manufacturers.
- The EU does not yet have a comprehensive database of all substances used in plastics.
- Under the REACH regulation, polymers are exempt from registration requirements.
- The information available for low- and medium-tonnage substances under REACH is insufficient to reliably identify critical hazard properties.
Invest in sustainable and innovative technologies to manage and mitigate the presence of legacy substances in waste streams, ensuring they do not compromise recycling efforts or environmental safety.
Regulatory actions should ensure compliance across the plastic supply chain including the safety of imported plastic products in the EU.
Modern technologies, such as digital product passports, could enhance labeling by providing accessible and comprehensive information that fully discloses the product's chemical content.
Modern technologies, such as digital product passports, could enhance labeling by providing accessible and comprehensive information that fully discloses the product's chemical content.
Invest in sustainable and innovative technologies to manage and mitigate the presence of legacy substances in waste streams, ensuring they do not compromise recycling efforts or environmental safety.
Improve public understanding of the issues surrounding plastic additives and encourage responsible consumption choices through education and awareness campaigns.
Compostable plastics, especially those used in agriculture (e.g., mulch films), are intended to degrade in soil. As such, regulations should enforce stringent requirements to ensure that no adverse toxic effects will occur biological communities in aquatic and terrestrial habitats.
Regulatory actions should ensure compliance across the plastic supply chain including the safety of imported plastic products in the EU.
Compostable plastics, especially those used in agriculture (e.g., mulch films), are intended to degrade in soil. As such, regulations should enforce stringent requirements to ensure that no adverse toxic effect will occur in biological communities in aquatic and terrestrial habitats.
Improve public understanding of the issues surrounding plastic additives and encourage responsible consumption choices through education and awareness campaigns.
Toxicity testing methods must be included in the assessment to allow additives in food-contact materials and other plastics, in addition to chemical migration studies.
Toxicity testing methods must be expanded to consider the full food chain in each ecosystem compartment and shall also focus on the bioavailability of contaminants to more accurately evaluate their ecotoxicological impacts.
Source: United Nations Environment Programme and Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (2023). Chemicals in plastics: a technical report. Geneva
OLIGOMER
MONOMERS
MONOMERS
POLYMERS
RAW MATERIAL
CHEMICAL ADDITIVES AND PROCESSING AIDS
PLASTIC
MATERIALS
>13,000
so far identified or
detected in plastics as
monomers, additives
and processing
aids
>7,000
analyzed for
their hazardous
properties
>3,200
of potential
concern
Increase funding for research and encourage collaboration between industry and scientists to develop safer, environmentally friendly alternatives to hazardous additives. Decisions on alternative additives should use a priori Environmental and Human Health Risk Assessments to prioritize safety.
Increase funding for research and encourage collaboration between industry and scientists to develop safer, environmentally friendly alternatives to hazardous additives. Decisions on alternative additives should use a priori Environmental and Human Health Risk Assessments to prioritize safety.
Plastics Additives
Estibaliz Garmendia
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Transcript
Plastic Additives
Plastic additives are substances applied into plastic material to improve its properties and enhance the manufacturing process. All plastic objects contain additives in amounts of a few units in weight percentage. Although useful, throughout the life cycle of plastic material, these additives may be released into the environment, with the potential to disrupt ecosystems, and enter the human food chain. The complex and diverse chemical nature of plastic additives makes it difficult to regulate them and the partial lack of comprehensive environmental data hinders accurate risk assessments. There is a need to ensure that these additives are chemically safe for humans and the environment, as well as to improve regulations and public awareness, encouraging responsible consumption.
Chemicals in plastics overview
Description of the challenge
Main policy challenges
Source: United Nations Environment Programme and Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (2023). Chemicals in plastics: a technical report. Geneva
Anatomy of plastics
MONOMERS AND POLYMERS Constitute main building blocks of plastic material
BREAKDOWN Most widely produced plastics additives
ADDITIVES Bring desired functionality to the plastic material
Plasticizers To make plastic softer and flexible
OTHER INTENTIONALLY ADDED SUBSTANCES Such as starting materials and catalysts
Fillers That occupy space without changing functional properties
Flame retardants To reduce flammability and prevent spread of fire
NON-INTENTIONALLYADDED SUBSTANCES Such as solvents, cleaning agents, or impurities from manufacturing or recycling
Other Including colorants, antioxidants, heat and light stabilizers, lubricants, biocides or antistatic agents
Policy Recommendations
Enforce transparency
Strengthen regulatory frameworks
Address legacy substances
Foster safer alternatives
Encourage complementary studies and assessments
Promote public awareness
Ensure biodegradable plastic safety
Relevance to Legislation
FOLLOW US
Invest in sustainable and innovative technologies to manage and mitigate the presence of legacy substances in waste streams, ensuring they do not compromise recycling efforts or environmental safety.
Regulatory actions should ensure compliance across the plastic supply chain including the safety of imported plastic products in the EU.
Modern technologies, such as digital product passports, could enhance labeling by providing accessible and comprehensive information that fully discloses the product's chemical content.
Modern technologies, such as digital product passports, could enhance labeling by providing accessible and comprehensive information that fully discloses the product's chemical content.
Invest in sustainable and innovative technologies to manage and mitigate the presence of legacy substances in waste streams, ensuring they do not compromise recycling efforts or environmental safety.
Improve public understanding of the issues surrounding plastic additives and encourage responsible consumption choices through education and awareness campaigns.
Compostable plastics, especially those used in agriculture (e.g., mulch films), are intended to degrade in soil. As such, regulations should enforce stringent requirements to ensure that no adverse toxic effects will occur biological communities in aquatic and terrestrial habitats.
Regulatory actions should ensure compliance across the plastic supply chain including the safety of imported plastic products in the EU.
Compostable plastics, especially those used in agriculture (e.g., mulch films), are intended to degrade in soil. As such, regulations should enforce stringent requirements to ensure that no adverse toxic effect will occur in biological communities in aquatic and terrestrial habitats.
Improve public understanding of the issues surrounding plastic additives and encourage responsible consumption choices through education and awareness campaigns.
Toxicity testing methods must be included in the assessment to allow additives in food-contact materials and other plastics, in addition to chemical migration studies.
Toxicity testing methods must be expanded to consider the full food chain in each ecosystem compartment and shall also focus on the bioavailability of contaminants to more accurately evaluate their ecotoxicological impacts.
Source: United Nations Environment Programme and Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (2023). Chemicals in plastics: a technical report. Geneva
OLIGOMER
MONOMERS
MONOMERS
POLYMERS
RAW MATERIAL
CHEMICAL ADDITIVES AND PROCESSING AIDS
PLASTIC MATERIALS
>13,000 so far identified or detected in plastics as monomers, additives and processing aids
>7,000 analyzed for their hazardous properties
>3,200 of potential concern
Increase funding for research and encourage collaboration between industry and scientists to develop safer, environmentally friendly alternatives to hazardous additives. Decisions on alternative additives should use a priori Environmental and Human Health Risk Assessments to prioritize safety.
Increase funding for research and encourage collaboration between industry and scientists to develop safer, environmentally friendly alternatives to hazardous additives. Decisions on alternative additives should use a priori Environmental and Human Health Risk Assessments to prioritize safety.