Forget “forever chemicals”: California bans PFAS in paper-based packaging from 2023

24 Sep 2021 --- Lawmakers in California, US, have passed a bill banning “forever chemicals” (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in all paper-based packaging from January 1, 2023.

The legislation will make California the sixth US state to outlaw PFAS for F&B packaging, following similar action in Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington.

Pressure has been rising against PFAS, which is often used as a heat, oil, stains, grease, and water barrier in fast food packs, as evidence linking the chemicals to cancer and other serious health concerns mounts.

The “forever chemicals”
PFAS are a class of over 9,000 hazardous chemicals, of which only a handful have been fully toxicologically studied.

The nickname “forever chemicals” was coined as they do not break down naturally. Since a majority of US packaging is disposed of in landfills, PFAS eventually separates from waste packaging materials and leaches into the land and aquatic environments.

The only way of potentially destroying the chemicals is via high-temperature incineration – not something normally available through US waste streams. PFAS has been linked to testicular cancer and kidney failure.

The bill, AB 1200, known as the California Safer Food Packaging and Cookware Act of 2021, will also require cookware manufacturers to disclose the presence of chemicals in their products that are of concern for human health or the environment starting January 1, 2024.

“Misleading advertising” on cookware packaging will also be banned under the bill as early as January 1, 2023. This can include, for example, claims that a product is free of a specific hazardous chemical when other chemicals from the same class are present.

PFAS versus plastic
Mounting legislation against PFAS comes amid similar global action against plastic packaging. Single-use plastic bans in the US, UK and EU attempt to address similar environmental and human health issues arising from chemical contamination from packaging waste.

However, with industry players making efforts to innovate increasingly sophisticated non-plastic packaging, paper-based solutions are increasingly popular, creating a knock-on spike in demand for responsible barrier properties.

Innova Market Insights highlighted this by marking “Fiber-based Frenzy,” a top trend for 2021, noting a boom in paper packaging innovations coupled with high rates of positive consumer perceptions of paper’s environmental footprint.

A central cause of PFAS prevalence lies in the phase-out of single-use plastics. Manufacturers are seeking barrier solutions for fiber-based packaging applications that can mimic the protection afforded by plastics.California is the sixth US state to take decisive action against PFAS use in food packaging.

Industry successes and failures
While environmental activists are having some success in pushing anti-PFAS legislation through courts in some countries, criticism has been levied against certain companies for failing to act independently.

Burger King’s parent company Restaurant Brands International was slated by public health advocates after promising to address PFAS in its food packaging “within the next few months.” Critics accused the company of stalling on a serious issue.

Other companies, however, have stepped up to address the issue. Recently, German foodservice multinational Delivery Hero launched a program aimed at providing e-commerce companies in the food sector affordable options on PFAS-free packaging.

World Centric also unveiled Leaf+, a fully compostable alternative to PFAS packaging for disposable fiber tableware. Combining new technology with a proprietary application, Leaf+’s oil-resistant, food-grade properties made it an industry first, according to the company.

By Louis Gore-Langton

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