Plastic Additives – Chemical risk assessment in the linear and circular plastic economy

Why

Plastic additives and plastic-associated chemicals are a topic of great interest for the negotiations of the Internationally Legal Binding Instrument to End Plastic Waste (‘ILBI’). Developing risk-based solutions that are applicable to the circumstances unique to chemicals in polymer matrices and their increased recyclability is critical to ensure safe use.

The scientific work is to provide the background to regulators and stakeholders to conduct risk assessments on chemicals associated with plastic. The work will eventually lead to the development a framework specifically addressing the unique challenges associated with polymers in the linear and circular economy.

How

We propose a project to assess and advance chemical risk assessment to support the plastic circular economy.
As outlined in a briefing paper submitted to INC-5 in November 2024, the TF proposes to review risk assessment principles currently applied to plastic chemical additives and assess the considerations needed for circularity. Work previously conducted by the ICCA working group can serve as background material for experts.
• Key Focus Areas:
• Current state of the science on risk assessments of additives: What approaches do we have in place today to conduct risk assessments for additives in polymers? What can we achieve with what we have? What are the gaps?
• Setting the scope of Additives in Circular economy – what are the challenges as we consider use of polymers after they are recycled?

• Special considerations for polymeric materials
• What are the gaps in understanding for chemicals in polymers, briefly contrasting to other materials (e.g., paper, glass, etc.)

 Prepare 1^st manuscript for publication.

 Subsequently other related activities could be pursued:

Phase 2: Develop research projects aligned to the challenges identified in phase 1 to fill the gaps in knowledge or data availability

Phase 3: Prepare additional manuscript(s) applying risk assessment principles to plastic associated chemicals (e.g., non-intentionally added substances, unknown breakdown products, etc.) and relevant case studies

Deliverable

• Scientific briefing paper for INC-5 in November 2024​
• Manuscript 1: State-of-the-Science, application of additives to polymers, gap analysis, and potential solutions​
• Manuscript 2: Risk assessment of additives in plastics in complex scenarios, such as recycling/circularity including case studies

Timeline

We propose a task force to advance risk assessment for plastic related chemicals (e.g., additives) to support the circular economy:
• November 2024: Briefing paper for INC-5 

• Q1 2025: Submit a recommendation to the ECETOC Scientific Committee of potential follow up activities, e.g.:

• Develop research projects aligned to the challenges identified in phase 1 to fill the gaps in knowledge or data availability (12-48 months)
• Prepare additional manuscript(s) outlining a risk-based framework to apply risk assessment principles to novel issues of plastic associated chemicals (e.g., NIAS) in the circular economy (18 months).