To analyze this situation, AIMPLAS, the Technological Institute of Plastics, has organized the 4th edition of the OKPLAST Plastics and Legislation Forum . Over two days and five thematic blocks, it will review the legislative changes that will affect products containing plastic, as foreseen by the European Green Deal and the New Circular Economy Plan, for a cleaner and more competitive Europe, the latest developments in REACH and in the legislation of materials in contact with food, among others.
The Forum, sponsored by Andersen and Raorsa, will begin with a presentation on international legislative developments and trends. These presentations will cover topics ranging from the European Commission's draft ecodesign regulation for products to Plastics Europe's draft international plastics agreement, and the draft European legislation on microplastics, among others. The second session will analyze the current implementation of the Waste and Contaminated Soils Act and the plastic tax, as well as various strategies to minimize their impact through the introduction of recycled materials and reusable solutions. Following this, a full session will be dedicated to analyzing the latest developments related to the REACH Regulation for the control of the import and production of substances and mixtures. This complex and constantly updated legislation ensures the safe use of products on the market. The new polymer registry and the prohibitions or restrictions on substances of concern will be discussed in this session.
During the second day, international certification bodies will demonstrate the importance of ecolabels and certifications in communicating and building trust regarding product sustainability (recycled content, biodegradability, compostability, etc.), avoiding the dangers of greenwashing when this improved environmental performance is not substantiated and is based solely on appearances or beliefs. The emergence of new, supposedly more sustainable food packaging materials that are not subject to the same regulatory requirements as plastics has recently led to a significant increase in health alerts. For this reason, OKPLAST has scheduled a final session dedicated to plastics in contact with food. This session will address the challenges and opportunities for recycled materials and the importance of tests such as the challenge test, NIAS (National Information Assessments), the case of paper and cardboard, and their application to other sectors such as cosmetics.
