𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲'𝐬 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐋𝐄𝐃𝐆𝐄 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 : 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐋𝐀𝐁𝐄𝐋 𝐎𝐍 𝐀 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐂 𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐔𝐓𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐒 𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐃 𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐂 𝐈𝐓𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐅

𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲'𝐬 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐋𝐄𝐃𝐆𝐄 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐋𝐀𝐁𝐄𝐋 𝐎𝐍 𝐀 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐂 𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐔𝐓𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐒 𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐃 𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐂 𝐈𝐓𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐅

When trace bisphenols or phthalates or PFAS are detected in food packaging, many assume they were deliberately added to the base polymer.

But PE, PP and PET do not contain these chemicals as part of their polymer chemistry. Investigators should examine the entire converted package not just the resin.

Potential downstream sources include:

🏷️ Thermal labels: Bisphenol or alternative color developers, dyes and binders

🩹 Adhesives: Tackifiers, stabilizers and residual formulation components

🎨 Inks and coatings: Pigments, solvents, binders and photo initiators

Some thermal-label chemicals can migrate through thin packaging films under certain conditions. In recycling, poorly designed labels, inks and adhesives can also remain with the material or contaminate recyclate.

But this is not uniquely a plastic problem.

Paper and board can receive contaminants from inks, coatings, adhesives, recycled fibers and mineral oils. Glass packaging can be affected by labels, decorated coatings, closures and cap liners. Tinplate and aluminum cans may contain internal polymer coatings, sealing compounds and printing systems chemically distinct from the metal.

The lesson is simple: a finished package is more than its base material.

Trace detection does not automatically prove harmful exposure, nor does it prove the base material was the source. Packaging should be assessed as a complete system, including labels, inks, coatings, adhesives, closures, liners and recycled content.

Better circular design means:

Low-migration inks and adhesives

Safer thermal-label technologies

Wash-off labels designed for clean separation

Testing that identifies the actual contamination source

Let’s stop blaming plastic, paper, glass or metal for chemistry introduced further down the converting line.

Check the facts before you act

source : Plastics Research Council

Study: Pivnenko, K., et al. — "BPA and BPS in thermal paper receipts and their migration into food contact materials." (Waste Management / Food Additives & Contaminants).

Study: Geueke, B., Groh, K., & Muncke, J. — "Food packaging in the circular economy: Overview of chemical safety aspects for packaging materials." (Science of the Total Environment, 2018).

Study: Canellas, E., Vera, P., & Nerín, C. — "Migration of target and non-target compounds from adhesives used in food packaging materials." (Journal of Chromatography A).