Materials News
Recipe for safe packaging Bisphenol-A (BPA) chemical, which is used in the manufacturing of plastics, has been identified as a major health threat, especially when used in food packaging. The extent of the risk of using BPA, or the allowable safe levels, have become topics of discussion of many debates, says Angelica Buan in this report, adding that safer alternatives may be in the pipeline.
Synthetic hormone under wraps BPA, a chemical building block, is used primarily to make polycarbonate (PC) and epoxy resins. Clear and rigid PCs are used to make food and beverage containers as well as other goods like baby bottles. Epoxy resins, on the other hand, are used as anti-corrosive coatings or liners for metal cans, bottle tops and other metal products. BPA, according to studies, is carcinogenic, and acts like a synthetic hormone or oestrogen that may adversely affect reproductive systems. Researchers have also associated BPA with obesity, brain defects, cardiovascular abnormalities and other serious disorders. It is for this reason that in 2012, the US Food and Drug Authority (FDA) ruled against the use of BPA in baby bottles and linings of infant formula cans.
BPA first came under heat back in 2012 in studies on baby bottles. Since then, manufacturers have introduced BPA-free bottles
Despite the bad rap on BPA, it has maintained its growth pace. Global volume consumption of BPA was estimated at 7.7 million tonnes in 2015, and is projected to rise to 10.6 million tonnes by 2022 at a CAGR of 4.8% between 2016 and 2022. India-based research firm Industry Experts says the strong demand for BPA is coming from emerging markets, with China, India, Mexico and Russia maintaining above average growth prospects. There are other applications that will also drive demand for BPA, such as wind turbines that require resilient rotor blades reinforced with epoxy resins. The firm also says that the intensifying campaign against the use of BPA in the food and beverage packaging sector may not be detrimental to BPA growth, since this sector accounts for a mere 3-4% of the use of PC.
6
OCTOBER 2016
“Poison” in a can? In the meantime, US-headquartered Environmental Working Group (EWG) has created a database of 16,000 processed food and beverage products packaged in materials that may contain BPA. The array of products from 926 brands includes: the lids of glass jars for baby food, pickles, jelly, salsa and other condiments; aerosol cans for whipped toppings and non-stick sprays; bottles and tins of cooking oil; aluminium beverage cans, metal coffee cans and even beer kegs
EWG recently unveiled an easily searchable database of more than 16,000 food and beverage items that may come in cans, bottles or jars containing BPA
As of this writing, EWG has identified 78 brands in the US that still use cans with BPA-based epoxy lining for their products, while 31 brands have already shifted to non-BPA cans. Meanwhile, a new study carried out by researchers from Stanford and John Hopkins Universities reinforces the link between canned food and exposure to BPA. The study, published in the Environmental Research journal, highlights the challenges of varying exposure to BPA since specific canned foods have higher levels of BPA than others. The “worst offenders” it noted are canned soup, canned pasta, and canned vegetables and fruit. While a single conclusive study to nail down BPA may not be possible, consumers would rather stay safe, thus pressing manufacturers to transition to non-BPA packaging.