MATERIALS | PLASTICISERS


FDA denies call for phthalate food ban


Last month, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) denied a petition calling on it to reconsider an earlier decision not to ban the use of eight ortho-phthalate plasticisers in food contact applications and not to revoke sanctioned uses for five. The reconsideration petition had been filed by US-based public interest legal group Earthjustice and referred to the FDA’s earlier denial of a citizen petition submitted in 2016 by Earth- justice and a number of other groups, including the Center for Food Safety, Center for Environmental Health, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Consumer Federation of America, and the Natural Resources Defense Council. That original petition had called on the agency to ban the use of eight ortho-phthalate plasticisers —DIBP, DBP, BBP, DCHP, DnHP, DIOP, DEHP and DiNP — in all food contact applications and to remove five prior-sanctioned uses for BPBG, DEP,


IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK


The agency was responding to a petition from legal group Earthjustice


EPEG, DEHP and DIOP. The FDA said in its response to the


reconsideration petition that it had evaluated it and concluded that it did not provide a basis for modifying its original decision. “Our response explains that we


adequately considered relevant information and views contained in the administrative record when


polymeric grades Palamoll 652, 654 and 656 in a BMB version. “Customers are focusing on smart ways to


reduce the carbon footprint in their formulations,” said Ellen Strubel, head of sales plasticisers EMEA at BASF. The company says that using biomass- balanced versions of known plasticisers means customers can realise a reduced carbon footprint through the attribution of renewable raw materials within BASF’s integrated production system. Such plasticisers offer the same product features as their conventional counterparts, so they can be used and processed in the same way. Calculation of the product carbon footprint (PCF) follows the “Together for Sustainability” methodology, in which BASF and several other chemical companies have agreed on a global guideline with the goal of assessing, auditing, and improving sustainability practices within their global supply chains. TÜV Rhineland has certified that BASF’s method to calculate cradle-to-gate product carbon footprint is in line with the relevant ISO standards and with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Product Standard.


34 FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | September 2023


responding to the original citizen petition,” it said. “Additionally, we have considered the information submitted in the reconsideration petition and other relevant informa- tion in the administrative record. The FDA’s decision to deny the original petition remains unchanged.” � www.fda.gov � www.earthjustice.org


Prior to June of this year, BASF offered its biomass balanced plasticisers only in accordance with the REDcert2 certification scheme. Since June, its biomass-balanced plasticisers are also certified to the ISCC Plus certification scheme. Better meeting customers’ needs is the driver


for expansion of the plasticiser product range at Evonik Oxeno, the company says. “The portfolio expansion is in line with our


expansion strategy with the latest generation of isononanol (INA)-based plasticisers,” said Roland Pietz, market segment head for oxo-alcohols and plasticisers at Evonik Oxeno. He says the product launch strengthens Evonik’s business in the PVC plasticiser sector. Evonik’s Elatur product line comprises the Elatur DINCD and Elatur CH (DINCH) general purpose plasticisers for outdoor and indoor applications, and Elatur DPT fast gelling plasticiser. The com- pany’s portfolio also includes Vestnol 9 (DINP), a high molecular weight universal plasticiser that the company says is suitable for almost any flexible PVC applications. Evonik Oxeno’s ISCC Plus certification means it


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