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The need of sustainable food packaging preserving food from degradation conducted to increase research on active packaging using essential oil, as carvacrol, for their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. The encapsulation of this kind of volatile molecules is necessary and nanoencapsulation into biopolymers, as poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) showed an increasing interest as a green solution, although this method again need to be improved. In this study, a full experimental design was developed to select the best method (nanoprecipitation and emulsification) and operating conditions (PHBV molecular weight, surfactant concentration, carvacrol/PHBV ratio and Aqueous/Organic phase volume ratios) to encapsulate carvacrol into PHBV. In this purpose, for each tested conditions, encapsulation efficiency (process efficiency, carvacrol recovery, PHBV recovery and loading capacity), as well as nanoparticles’ morphology and size were estimated, and statistically analysed. Carvacrol recovery and loading capacity were significatively highest (61 % and 100 % respectively) using emuslification method, low surfactant concentration, high carvacrol/PHBV ratio (for loading capacity) and low PHBV molecular weight (for carvacrol recovery). To the contrary, PHBV recovery increased (93 %) using the nanoprecipitation method, a high surfactant concentration and a low carvacrol/PHBV ratio, while process efficiency increased (73 %) with a low carvacrol/PHBV ratio and a low aqueous/organic phase volume ratio. Moreover, small spherical-shaped and separated nanoparticles were obtained using emulsification method, high surfactant concentration but low carvacrol/PHBV ratio. Therefore, including all the aspects of carvacrol nanoencapsulation into PHBV (shape and encapsulation efficiency) using emulsification method, with a low level for all parameters except the surfactant concentration are the most suitable strategy.

This literature review provides a focus on the potential of integrating the latest scientific and technological advances in the biological field to improve the status of the key steps of a food packaging life cycle: production, usage, post-usage, and long-term fate. A case study of such multi-biological food packaging is demonstrated based on the use of PHAs (polyhydroxyalkanoates) polymer, a microbiologically produced polymer from non-food renewable resources, activated by the use of bioactive components to enhance its usage benefits by reducing food loss and waste, displaying potential for reusability, compostability as post-usage, and finally, being ultimately biodegradable in most common natural conditions to considerably reduce the negative impact that persistent plastics have on the environment. We discuss how designing safe and efficient multi “bio” food packaging implies finding a compromise between sometimes contradictory functional properties. For example, active antimicrobials help preserve food but can hamper the ultimate biodegradation rate of the polymer. This review presents such antagonisms as well as techniques (e.g., coatings, nanoencapsulation) and tools (e.g., release kinetic) that can help design optimized, safe, and efficient active food packaging.

Reconstruction of three-dimensional (3D) structure from experimental image acquisition (e.g., from micro computed tomography data) is very useful in composite material science. Composite considered are characterized by a dispersion of particles in a continuous phase. Many properties of the composite (e.g., mass transfer properties) depend on its structural assembly. A reliable prediction of these properties requires to well represent this structure and especially, the region at the vicinity of the dispersed phase. (3D) structure generation must thus permit to (1) simplify the real composite structure observed to make it compatible with further modelling tasks (e.g., meshing constraints in finite elements methods, computation time) and (2) keep enough representativeness of the structure of the specimen to produce reliable numerical predictions. This article describes an innovative, cascading (3D) reconstruction procedure of composite material from microtomography data. • First step of this pipeline is the extraction of relevant structural markers from microtomography images using image analysis. • Second step is the modelling of the distribution of the structural markers selected (statistical laws). • Third and final step is the reconstruction of the (3D) structures based on the pre-determined distribution laws in a RVE (representative volume element) of the composite.

Up to now, recycling has been opposed to biodegradability, although these two end-of-life options are complementary. If combined in an integrated system, recycling creates an after-use economy, while biodegradability eradicates definitely the issues of environmental spreading of the persistent plastic wastes. This paper reviews the current state on recyclability of some promising biodegradable polyesters, polylactide acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), bio-polybutylene succinate (PBS) and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), with emphasis on mechanical recycling. The effect of the mechanical reprocessing (multiple extrusion or injection-molding) on the chemical structure and thermomechanical properties of the polymers is reported. In addition, the application of upgrading strategies such as blends and/or composites to improve polyesters recyclability are considered. A further decontamination step is studied in order to achieve food contact aptitude in mechanical recycling for food packaging application. Finally, the challenges that should be faced in the future, to promote the recyclability of biodegradable polyesters are addressed.

PHAs are polyesters synthesized by micro-organisms as an energy reserve from renewable, and possibly non-food, feedstock. They are non-toxic, biocompatible and quickly biodegradable in different natural environments, ensuring not to pollute and jeopardize our ecosystems unlike conventional plastics. They are good candidates to replace conventional plastics such as polypropylene for their functional properties during the usage stage of their life cycle. However, expanding their eco-efficiency and circularity by adding cycles, such as reuse or recycling, to their life-cycle requires to improve their thermal stability and mechanical properties. Here we offer to discuss on how improving their thermomechanical properties while preserving their crucial biodegradability. The review focuses on a well-known type of stabilizer, the polyphenols and their impacts on PHAs’ thermomechanical properties and biodegradability. It has mainly been concluded that the presence of polyphenols, at a certain amount, contributes to the improvement of the physical-chemical properties of PHAs, whereas there is no evidence that polyphenols have an inhibitory effect on the biodegradation of PHAs.

Packaging play a key role on food quality preservation and shelf-life increase. Even if the link between shelf life and food loss has not yet clearly been formalized, it is generally observed that a well-designed packaging contributes to reduce food loss and waste and thus the corresponding useless negative impact that producing and distributing uneaten or inedible food has on our environment and economy. In order to anticipate the usage benefit of a given packaging, decision making tools are needed to be developed. While some authors' separately showed the importance of shelf life model, food loss and waste prediction model and Life Cycle Analysis, so far no connection was really made between them. In this context, this paper aims to analyze the different mathematical modeling approaches proposed in the available scientific literature, from the prediction of food shelf life gain thanks to well-designed packaging to the environmental benefice due to the decrease of food loss and waste. The article presents a review of 29 models developed on this thematic during the last two decades. The analyzed models were split in three categories: (1) the food shelf life models, (2) the models linking shelf life to food loss and waste, and (3) the Life Cycle Analysis including direct (production, processing and end of life) and indirect (food loss and waste) packaging environmental impacts. In one hand, the review showed that if many predicting approaches were conducted to assess food shelf life, only few of them were enough mechanistic (by coupling mass transfer to food deterioration) to be used in other conditions than the ones initially studied. Moreover, the consumers' practices and believes being strongly influent on the quantity of food waste at household, it should be more systematically integrated in the food loss and waste estimation for a fairer evaluation. On the other hand, this review highlighted that even if indirect environmental benefit of packaging, e.g., through food loss and waste decrease, is more and more integrated in life cycle analyses of the food packaging system, most of studies were only based on rough estimation and not on real quantification of the food loss and waste reduction obtained thanks to the well-designed packaging. Therefore, further research is needed to facilitate the representation/quantification of the links between shelf life increase for packed food, resulting food loss and waste reduction and environmental benefit to support the packaging sectors to choose and validate the best packaging solution to decrease the environmental impact of food/packaging system.

In order to lengthen the life cycle of packaging materials, it is essential to study their potential for reuse. This has been never carried out for emerging bio-based and biodegradable materials such as PHBV/(ligno-)cellulosic fibre-based biocomposite materials. This work therefore highlights the impact of successive dishwashing cycles on the physical-chemical and structural stability of such materials. Several parameters were considered to assess this stability, such as the visual aspect and colour, the microstructure, the thermal and tensile properties, and the overall migration in food liquid simulants. The effect of fibre composition, morphology, and content was investigated by selecting three types of commercial (ligno-)cellulosic fibres and two filler contents (20 and 40 wt%). A great potential for reuse of PHBV films was highlighted by their high stability after up to at least 50 dishwashing cycles. However, the addition of (ligno-)cellulosic fillers negatively impacts the stability of PHBV-based materials, especially due to the hygroscopic behaviour of (ligno-)cellulosic fillers and the heterogenous microstructure of biocomposites, with at best up to 10 possible dishwashing cycles for ultra-pure cellulose. In conclusion, reuse including dishwashing steps can be considered for neat PHBV materials, while this should be prohibited for PHBV/(ligno-)cellulosic fibre-based biocomposite materials.

Evaluating the quality changes of packed strawberries during storage requires multiple, time consuming and costly measurements such as sensorial, chemical and decay identification. In order to efficiently assess the quality of strawberries in Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) while reducing the number of analysis done, we propose to gather the main visual quality changes under one unique, overall measurement. For this end, a protocol associated to a deterioration grid was built to evaluate surface deterioration as a function of time considering color change, texture softening and microorganism development. The developed method has permitted to build the deterioration kinetic of strawberries packed in different conditions (MAP or no MAP). It allows to mimic the quality analysis made by the consumer, at a glance, during purchase. To the best of our knowledge, the presented method is a breakthrough unlike most common usual methods mainly relying on the number of spoiled strawberries. • Global measurement of the deterioration encompassing microorganism development, color change and texture softening. • An annotation grid built to be used as reference for the attribution of the percentage of strawberries’ deterioration. • Measurements of a percentage of surface deterioration was found more accurate than counting the number of rotten strawberries. Method name: Global visual deterioration assessment of strawberries, Keywords: Assessing deterioration, Deterioration grid, Texture softening, Color change, Microorganism development

A three-dimensional model structure that allows considering interphase layer around permeable inclusions is developed to predict water vapor permeability in composite materials made of a matrix Poly(3-HydroxyButyrate-co-3-HydroxyValerate) (PHBV) including Wheat Straw Fiber (WSF) particles. About 500 two-phase structures corresponding to composites of different particles volume fractions (5.14−11.4−19.52 % v/v) generated using experimental particles’ size distribution have permitted to capture all the variability of the experimental material. These structures have served as a basis to create three-phase structures including interphase zone of altered polymer property surrounding each particle. Finite Element Method (FEM) applied on these structures has permitted to calculate the relative permeability (ratio between composite and neat matrix permeability P/Pm). The numerical results of the two-phase model are consistent with the experimental data for volume fraction lower than 11.4 %v/v but the large upturn of the experimental relative permeability for highest volume fraction is not well represented by the two-phase model. Among hypothesis made to explain model’s deviation, the presence of an interphase with its own transfer properties is numerically tested: numerical exploration made with the three-phase model proves that an interphase of 5 µm thick, with diffusivity of Di≥1×10−10 m2·s−1, would explain the large upturn of permeability at high volume fraction.

Packaging is an essential element of response to address key challenges of sustainable food consumption on the international scene, which is clearly about minimizing the environmental footprint of packed food. An innovative sustainable packaging aims to address food waste and loss reduction by preserving food quality, as well as food safety issues by preventing food-borne diseases and food chemical contamination. Moreover, it must address the long-term crucial issue of environmentally persistent plastic waste accumulation as well as the saving of oil and food material resources. This paper reviews the major challenges that food packaging must tackle in the near future in order to enter the virtuous loop of circular bio-economy. Some solutions are proposed to address pressing international stakes in terms of food and plastic waste reduction and end-of-life issues of persistent materials. Among potential solutions, production of microbial biodegradable polymers from agro-food waste residues seems a promising route to create an innovative, more resilient, and productive waste-based food packaging economy by decoupling the food packaging industry from fossil feed stocks and permitting nutrients to return to the soil. To respond to the lack of tools and approach to properly design and adapt food packaging to food needs, mathematical simulation, based on modeling of mass transfer and reactions into food/packaging systems are promising tools. The next generation of such modeling and tools should help the food packaging sector to validate usage benefit of new packaging solutions and chose, in a fair and transparent way, the best packaging solution to contribute to the overall decrease of food losses and persistent plastic accumulation.

This data article contains values of oxygen and carbon dioxide solubility and diffusivity measured in various model and real food products. These data are stored in a public repository structured by ontology. These data can be retrieved through the @Web tool, a user-friendly interface to capitalise and query data. The @Web tool is accessible online at http://pfl.grignon.inra.fr/atWeb/. Keywords: Diffusivity, Solubility, Data, Data warehouse, Ontology, Food, O2, CO2

Two winery residues, namely vine shoots (ViSh) and wine pomace (WiPo), were up-cycled as fillers in PHBV-based biocomposites. Answering a biorefinery approach, the impact of a preliminary polyphenols extraction step using an acetone/water mixture on the reinforcing effect of fillers was assessed. Biocomposites (filler content up to 20 wt%) were prepared by melt-mixing and compared in terms of final performance (thermal, mechanical and barrier). It was shown that the reinforcing effect was slightly better in the case of vine shoots, while it was not significantly affected by the pre-treatment, demonstrating that these two winery residues could be perfectly used as fillers in composite materials even after an extraction process to maximize their potential of valorization.

Although PE-based nanocomposites are gaining interest within the food packaging industry for their outstanding functional properties, their end-of-life has been poorly studied. The lack of identification of such materials suggests that they could end-up in the recycling pathway optimized for the decontamination of un-filled PE. The objective of the present work is to understand and quantify the mechanisms involved in the high temperature desorption of surrogates for PE nanocomposites filled with organo-modified montmorillonite (PNC), compared to conventional PE. An original experimental setup was coupled with a modelling approach to identify the two phenomena involved in the decontamination process: diffusion of the surrogate into the bulk and its evaporation at the surface. A sweep of experimental temperatures enabled the determination of diffusion and evaporation parameters for PE and PNC and the activation energies related to the diffusivity among those two materials. The effects of the introduction of clay nanofillers onto the decontamination process have been explained and recommendations for the recycling pathway have been put forward.

Nanocomposite materials based on bio-polyesters (PBSA and PHBV) have been evaluated for their suitability for food contact according to the recommendations defined for non-biodegradable plastic materials, and subsequently, according to accelerated aging treatment. On the basis of the limited number of material/migrant/food simulant combinations studied here, the test for migration, using food simulants, appeared directly applicable to testing such materials which are not considered humidity-sensitive materials. Considering the only compliance criterion that must be met by the materials in contact, the materials submitted to the aging processing are not of safety concern and the incorporation of nanoclays in aged biodegradable materials does not interfere with their inertial properties in a dramatic way. At the molecular scale, the UV irradiation proved to induce an increase in the degree of crystallinity, resulting in a modification of transport properties of both packaging materials. The values of overall migration and specific migration were reduced without decreasing the diffusion coefficients of the target additives. The UV treatment and the addition of nanoparticles, therefore, seem to jointly promote the retention of organic compounds in the materials by increasing their affinity for packaging material.

Abstract The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process RecyPET Hungária (EU register number RECYC0146). The input is hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, containing no more than 5% of PET from non‐food applications. The flakes are dried and extruded. The output of the extrusion step is cut into pellets in an underwater chamber and then recrystallised. The crystallised pellets may then be fed into a solid‐state polycondensation (SSP) reactor. The recycled plastic is intended for manufacture of bottles for soft drinks or water. The applicant provided a challenge test, but the flakes contaminated with the surrogates and the pellets obtained after extrusion and crystallisation were extracted with n‐hexane without showing sufficient recovery. The Panel considered the extraction as unreliable and could therefore not conclude on the efficiency of the decontamination process. Furthermore, the flow charts provided by the applicant did not enable a clear identification of the steps relevant for the decontamination efficiency, and no sufficiently clear overview of the operational parameters of the steps of the process and the challenge test was provided. Without this information, a proper safety evaluation could not be performed. The Panel concluded that the process RecyPET Hungária is not sufficiently characterised and the applicant has not demonstrated in an adequately performed challenge test or by other appropriate evidence that the recycling process RecyPET Hungária is able to reduce contamination of the PET input to a concentration that does not pose a risk to human health.

Vine shoots are lignocellulosic agricultural residues. In addition to being an interesting source of polyphenols, they can be used as fillers in a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) matrix to decrease the overall cost and to propose an alternative to non-biodegradable fossil-based materials. The objective of the present work was to investigate how the incorporation of vine shoots fillers and a preliminary polyphenol extraction step could impact the biodegradability of biocomposites. Biocomposites (20 wt %) were produced by microcompounding. The biodegradation of materials was assessed by respirometric tests in soil. The negative impact of polyphenols on the biodegradability of vine shoots was confirmed. This was supported by crystallinity measurements and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations, which showed no difference in structure nor morphology between virgin and exhausted vine shoots particles. The incorporation of vine shoots fillers in PHBV slightly accelerated the overall biodegradation kinetics. All the biocomposites produced were considered fully biodegradable according to the French and European standard NF EN 17033, allowing the conclusion that up-cycling vine shoots for the production of lignocellulosic fillers is a promising strategy to provide biodegradable materials in natural conditions. Moreover, in a biorefinery context, polyphenol extraction from vine shoots has the advantage of improving their biodegradability.

Abstract This scientific opinion of the EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF Panel) deals with the safety evaluation of the recycling process General Plastic (EU register No RECYC153), which is based on the Starlinger Decon technology. The decontamination efficiency of the process was demonstrated by a challenge test. The input of this process is hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, mainly bottles, containing no more than 5% of PET from non‐food consumer applications. In this technology, washed and dried PET flakes are preheated before being submitted to solid‐state polycondensation (SSP) in a continuous reactor at high temperature under vacuum and gas flow. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the preheating (step 2) and the decontamination in the continuous SSP reactor (step 3) are the critical steps that determine the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters that control the process performance are well defined and are temperature, pressure, residence time and gas flow for steps 2 and 3. Under these conditions, it was demonstrated that the recycling process under evaluation, using the Starlinger Decon technology, is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below a conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process intended to be used up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs for long‐term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill, is not considered of safety concern. Trays made of this PET are not intended to be used, and should not be used, in microwave and conventional ovens.

Abstract This scientific opinion of the EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF Panel) deals with the safety evaluation of the recycling process BTB PET direct IV+ (EU register number RECYC0152). The input of the process is hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post‐consumer food contact PET containing no more than 5% of PET from non‐food consumer applications. In this technology, washed PET flakes are extruded into pellets which are further crystallised. Crystallised pellets are then preheated and fed to the solid‐state polycondensation (SSP) reactor. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that extrusion, crystallisation and SSP are the critical steps that determine the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters that control their performance are well defined and they are temperature, pressure and residence time. Under these conditions, it was demonstrated that the recycling process is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process, intended to be used up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs for long‐term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill, is not considered of safety concern. Trays made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used, and should not be used, in microwave and conventional ovens.

Abstract This scientific opinion of the EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF Panel) deals with the safety evaluation of the recycling process EstPak Plastik (EU register No RECYC150), which is based on the Starlinger Decon technology. The decontamination efficiency of the process was demonstrated by a challenge test. The input of this process is hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, mainly bottles, containing no more than 5% of PET from non‐food consumer applications. In this technology, washed and dried PET flakes are preheated before being submitted to solid‐state polycondensation (SSP) in a continuous reactor (one single reactor or several reactors in parallel) at high temperature under vacuum and gas flow. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the preheating (step 2) and the decontamination in the continuous SSP reactor (step 3) are the critical steps that determine the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters that control the performance of the process are well defined and are temperature, pressure, residence time and gas flow for steps 2 and 3. Under these conditions, it was demonstrated that the recycling process under evaluation, using the Starlinger Decon technology, is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below a conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process intended to be used up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs for long‐term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill, is not considered of safety concern. Trays made of this PET are not intended to be used, and should not be used, in microwave and conventional ovens.

Abstract This scientific opinion of the EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF Panel) deals with the safety evaluation of the recycling process Concept Plastic Packaging (EU register No RECYC151), which is based on the Starlinger Decon technology. The decontamination efficiency of the process was demonstrated by a challenge test. The input of this process is hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, mainly bottles, containing no more than 5% of PET from non‐food consumer applications. In this technology, washed and dried PET flakes are preheated before being submitted to solid‐state polycondensation (SSP) in a continuous reactor (one single reactor or several reactors in parallel) at high temperature under vacuum and gas flow. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the preheating (step 2) and the decontamination in the continuous SSP reactor (step 3) are the critical steps that determine the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters that control the performance of the process are well defined and are temperature, pressure, residence time and gas flow for steps 2 and 3. Under these conditions, it was demonstrated that the recycling process under evaluation, using the Starlinger Decon technology, is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below a conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process intended to be used up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs for long‐term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill, is not considered of safety concern. Trays made of this PET are not intended to be used, and should not be used, in microwave and conventional ovens.

Abstract This scientific opinion of the EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF Panel) deals with the safety evaluation of the recycling process ‘Morssinkhof Plastics’, EU register No RECYC0142. The input consists of crates, boxes, trays, pallets and containers, hereafter termed ‘crates’, used in food contact, made of high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene (PP). It comprises unused damaged crates, prewashed used crates and parts of crates originating from closed and controlled product loops. The process separates crates by material type and food type (fruit, vegetables and prepacked meat vs unpacked meat). Flakes from recycled HDPE or PP are produced that will be used by customers to manufacture new crates for food contact. The Panel considered that the management system put in place to ensure compliance of the origin of the input with Commission Regulation (EC) No 282/2008 and to provide full traceability from input to final product is the critical process step. It concluded that the input of the process ‘Morssinkhof Plastics’ originates from product loops which are in closed and controlled chains designed to ensure that only materials and articles which have been intended for food contact are used and that any contamination can be ruled out when run under the conditions described by the applicant. The recycling process ‘Morssinkhof Plastics’ is, therefore, able to produce recycled HDPE and PP suitable for manufacturing HDPE and PP crates intended to be used in contact with dry food, fruits and vegetables, prepacked and unpacked meat. The use of regrind from ‘external’ recyclers only based on private agreements, does not give reassurance to fall under the scope of Art. 4 c (i) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 282/2008 and is excluded from the present evaluation.

Abstract This scientific opinion of the EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF Panel) deals with the safety evaluation of the recycling process Envases Ureña (EU register No RECYC0147), which is based on the Starlinger Decon technology. The decontamination efficiency of the process was demonstrated by a challenge test. The input of this process is hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, mainly bottles, containing no more than 5% of PET from non‐food consumer applications. In this technology, washed and dried PET flakes are preheated before being submitted to solid‐state polycondensation (SSP) in a continuous reactor (one single reactor or several reactors in parallel) at high temperature under vacuum and gas flow. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the preheating (step 2) and the decontamination in the continuous SSP reactor (step 3) are the critical steps that determine the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters that control the performance of the process are well defined and are temperature, pressure, residence time and gas flow for steps 2 and 3. Under these conditions, it was demonstrated that the recycling process under evaluation, using the Starlinger Decon technology, is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below a conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process intended to be used up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs for long‐term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill, is not considered of safety concern. Trays made of this PET are not intended to be used and should not to be used in microwave and conventional ovens.

Abstract This scientific opinion of the EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids deals with the safety assessment of the recycling process Krones pellet (EU register number RECYC0149). The input to the process is washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers and containing no more than 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. In this technology, washed and dried PET flakes are extruded to pellets that are then crystallised and decontaminated in a reactor at high temperature under vacuum. Having examined the results of the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that two steps, the extrusion (step 2) and the decontamination in the vacuum reactor (step 4), are the critical steps that determine the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance of these critical steps are temperature, residence time and, for the vacuum reactor, also pressure. Under these conditions, it was demonstrated that the recycling process is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process when used up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs for long‐term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill, is not considered of safety concern. Trays made of this recycled PET should not be used in microwave and conventional ovens.

Abstract This scientific opinion of the EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF Panel) deals with the safety evaluation of the recycling process Veroniki Ecogrup SRL (EU register No RECYC0145), which is based on the Starlinger Decon technology. The decontamination efficiency of the process was demonstrated by a challenge test. The input of this process is hot washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, mainly bottles, containing no more than 5% of PET from non‐food consumer applications. In this technology, washed and dried PET flakes are preheated before being submitted to solid‐state polycondensation (SSP) in a continuous reactor at high temperature under vacuum and gas flow. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the preheating (step 2) and the decontamination in the continuous SSP reactor (step 3) are the critical steps that determine the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters that control their performance are well defined and are temperature, pressure, residence time and gas flow for step 2 and 3. Under these conditions, it was demonstrated that the recycling process under evaluation, using the Starlinger Decon technology, is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below a conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process and intended to be used up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs for long‐term storage at room temperature is not considered of safety concern. Trays made of this PET are not intended to be used, and should not to be used in microwave and conventional ovens.

Abstract This scientific opinion of the EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF Panel) deals with the safety assessment of the recycling process Märkische Faser (EU register number RECYC0135), which is based on the Next Generation Group (NGR) technology. The input to this process is hot washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, containing no more than 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. In this technology, post‐consumer washed and dried PET flakes are melted and degassed in an extruder under vacuum (step 2) and decontaminated during a melt‐state polycondensation under high temperature and vacuum (step 3). In step 4, the melt material is homogenised, extruded under vacuum and subsequently pelletised. Having examined the results of the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the steps 2, 3 and 4, are the critical steps for the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters which control the performance of these steps are well defined and are the temperature and pressure in all steps and the exposed surface area of the melt and its residence time of step 3. It was demonstrated that the recycling process under evaluation is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below a conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. The Panel concluded that recycled PET obtained from the process Märkische Faser is not of safety concern when used up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs for long‐term storage at room temperature. Thermoforming trays are not intended to be used and should not be used in microwave and conventional ovens.

Abstract This scientific opinion of the EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF Panel) deals with the safety evaluation of the recycling process PEGRA‐V (EU register number RECYC0137), which is based on the Starlinger IV+® technology. The input of the process is hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, containing no more than 5% of PET from non‐food consumer applications. In this technology, washed PET flakes are dried and crystallised in a reactor, then extruded into pellets which are further crystallised in a second reactor. Crystallised pellets are then preheated in a third reactor and fed to the solid‐state polycondensation (SSP) reactor. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the three steps, drying and crystallisation, extrusion and crystallisation and SSP are the critical steps that determine the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters that control their performance are well defined and they are the temperature, the gas flow and the residence time for the drying and crystallisation step, and the temperature, the pressure and the residence time for the extrusion and crystallisation step and the SSP step. Under these conditions, it was demonstrated that the recycling process is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below a conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process intended to be used up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs for long‐term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill, is not considered of safety concern. Trays made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used, and should not to be used in microwave and conventional ovens.

Abstract This scientific opinion of the EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF Panel) deals with the safety assessment of the EREMA recycling process (the EREMA Multi‐Purpose Reactor (MPR), EREMA Basic and EREMA Advanced technologies), with EU register number RECYC0134. The input to this process is hot washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, containing no more than 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. In the MPR technology, post‐consumer washed and dried PET flakes are heated in a continuous reactor under vacuum. The EREMA MPR decontamination technology can be combined with an extrusion line for pellets or sheet (EREMA Basic) or with an additional reactor (EREMA Advanced). The decontamination efficiency of the main continuous reactor (EREMA MPR technology) was determined by the challenge test. The Panel noted that this reactor is the critical step that determines the decontamination efficiency of these three EREMA technologies. The operating parameters controlling its performance are well defined and are temperature, pressure and residence time. It was demonstrated that, depending on the operating conditions, the recycling process under evaluation is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below a conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food, derived from the exposure scenario for infants, and 0.15 μg/kg food, derived from the exposure scenario for toddlers, when recycled PET is used at up to 100%. The Panel concluded that recycled PET obtained from the process is not of safety concern when used to manufacture articles intended for food contact applications if it is produced in compliance with the conditions and the percentage of recycled PET added to virgin PET specified in this opinion.

Abstract This scientific opinion of the EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF Panel) deals with the safety assessment of the recycling process Alimpet (EU register number RECYC0136), which is based on the EREMA Multi‐Purpose Reactor (MPR) technology. The input to this process is hot washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, containing no more than 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. In this technology, post‐consumer washed and dried PET flakes are heated in a continuous reactor under vacuum. Having examined the results of the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the continuous reactor step (step 2) is the critical step that determines the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters controlling its performance are well defined and are temperature, pressure and residence time. It was demonstrated that, depending on the operating conditions, the recycling process under evaluation is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below a conservatively modelled migration of 0.15 μg/kg food derived from the exposure scenario for toddlers. The Panel concluded that recycled PET obtained from the process is not of safety concern when used in extruded PET sheet for thermoforming trays and containers made with up to 100% recycled post‐consumer PET, and used for contact with all types of foodstuff except packaged water, for long‐term storage at room temperature. Thermoformed trays are not intended to be used and should not be used in microwave and conventional ovens.

Abstract This scientific opinion of the EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF Panel) deals with the safety assessment of the Coexpan Deutschland recycling process (EU register number RECYC0140), which is based on the EREMA Basic technology. The input to this process is hot washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, containing no more than 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. In this technology, post‐consumer washed and dried PET flakes are heated in a continuous reactor under vacuum before being extruded. Having examined the results of the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the continuous reactor step (step 2) is the critical step that determines the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters controlling its performance are well defined and are temperature, pressure and residence time. It was demonstrated that, depending on the operating conditions, the recycling process under evaluation is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below a conservatively modelled migration of 0.15 μg/kg food, derived from the exposure scenario for toddlers. The Panel concluded that recycled PET obtained from the process is not of safety concern when the final thermoformed trays and containers manufactured with the recycled sheets and not used for packaging water contain up to 100% recycled post‐consumer PET. Thermoformed trays are not intended to be used and should not be used in microwave and conventional ovens.

Abstract This scientific opinion of the EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF Panel) deals with the safety assessment of the Plastienvase recycling process (EU register number RECYC0138), which is based on the EREMA Basic technology. The input to this process is hot washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, containing no more than 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. In this technology, post‐consumer washed and dried PET flakes are heated in a continuous reactor under vacuum before being extruded. Having examined the results of the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the continuous reactor step (step 2) is the critical step that determines the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters controlling its performance are well defined and are temperature, pressure and residence time. It was demonstrated that, depending on the operating conditions, the recycling process under evaluation is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below a conservatively modelled migration of 0.15 μg/kg food, derived from the exposure scenario for toddlers. The Panel concluded that recycled PET obtained from the process is not of safety concern when the final thermoformed trays and containers manufactured with the recycled sheets and not used for packaging water contain up to 100% recycled post‐consumer PET. These thermoformed trays are not intended to be used and should not be used in microwave and conventional ovens.

Abstract This scientific opinion of the EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF Panel) deals with the safety assessment of the 4PET recycling process (EU register number RECYC0139), which is based on the EREMA Basic technology. The input to this process is hot washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, containing no more than 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. In this technology, post‐consumer washed and dried PET flakes are heated in a continuous reactor under vacuum before being extruded. Having examined the results of the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the continuous reactor step (step 2) is the critical step that determines the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters controlling its performance are well defined and are temperature, pressure and residence time. It was demonstrated that, depending on the operating conditions, the recycling process under evaluation is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below a conservatively modelled migration of 0.15 μg/kg food, derived from the exposure scenario for toddlers. The Panel concluded that recycled PET obtained from the process is not of safety concern when the final thermoformed trays and containers and PET beverage bottles manufactured with the recycled pellets and not used for packaging water or ready‐to‐feed liquid infant formulae contain up to 90% recycled post‐consumer PET. These thermoformed trays are not intended to be used and should not be used in microwave and conventional ovens.

Abstract This scientific opinion of the EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids deals with the safety evaluation of the recycling process Coexpan Montonate (EU register No RECYC0141), which is based on the Starlinger Decon technology. The decontamination efficiency of the process was demonstrated by a challenge test. The input of this process is washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, mainly bottles, containing no more than 5% of PET from non‐food consumer applications. In this technology, washed and dried PET flakes are preheated before being submitted to solid‐state polycondensation (SSP) in a continuous reactor at high temperature under vacuum and gas flow. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the preheating (step 2) and the decontamination in the continuous SSP reactor (step 3) are the critical steps that determine the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters that control their performance are well defined and are temperature, pressure, residence time and gas flow for step 2 and 3. Under these conditions, it was demonstrated that the recycling process under evaluation, using the Starlinger Decon technology, is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below a conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process intended to be used up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs for long‐term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill, is not considered of safety concern. Trays made of this PET are not intended to be used, and should not to be used in microwave and conventional ovens.

Iron particles of sizes between 6 and 20 nm forming aggregates of 57 ± 17 nm were synthesized by chemical reduction of iron precursors on the surface of montmorillonite (MMT). This active MMT-Fe powder was then uniformly distributed in a linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) matrix by extrusion at atmospheric conditions, as confirmed by wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), which also detected a partial exfoliation of the nanoclays. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) did not detect any significant modification of the degradation temperature between nanocomposites and active nanocomposites. 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy evidenced the formation of a majority of iron boride in MMT-Fe as well as in the active film containing it. The LLDPE.Fu15.MMT-Fe3.75 and LLDPE.Fu15.MMT-Fe6.25 films had oxygen-scavenging capacities of 0.031 ± 0.002 and 0.055 ± 0.009 g(O2)/g(Fe), respectively, while the neat powder had an adsorption capacity of 0.122 g(O2)/g(Fe). This result confirms that the fresh film samples were partially oxidized shortly after thermomechanical processing (60% of oxidized species according to Mössbauer spectroscopy). No significant difference in oxygen permeability was observed when MMT-Fe was added. This was related to the relatively small film surface used for measuring the permeability. The reaction−diffusion model proposed here was able to reproduce the observed data of O2 adsorption in an active nanocomposite, which validated the O2 adsorption model previously developed for dried MMT-Fe powder.

Materials that are both biodegradable and bio-sourced are becoming serious candidates for substituting traditional petro-sourced plastics that accumulate in natural systems. New biocomposites have been produced by melt extrusion, using bacterial polyester (poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)) as a matrix and cellulose particles as fillers. In this study, gas-phase esterified cellulose particles, with palmitoyl chloride, were used to improve filler-matrix compatibility and reduce moisture sensitivity. Structural analysis demonstrated that intrinsic properties of the polymer matrix (crystallinity, and molecular weight) were not more significantly affected by the incorporation of cellulose, either virgin or grafted. Only a little decrease in matrix thermal stability was noticed, this being limited by cellulose grafting. Gas-phase esterification of cellulose improved the filler’s dispersion state and filler/matrix interfacial adhesion, as shown by SEM cross-section observations, and limiting the degradation of tensile properties (stress and strain at break). Water vapor permeability, moisture, and liquid water uptake of biocomposites were increased compared to the neat matrix. The increase in thermodynamic parameters was limited in the case of grafted cellulose, principally ascribed to their increased hydrophobicity. However, no significant effect of grafting was noticed regarding diffusion parameters.

The innovative use of gelatin as a temperature sensor based on capacitance was studied at a temperature range normally used for meat cooking (20–80 °C). Interdigital electrodes coated by gelatin solution and two sensors of different thicknesses (38 and 125 µm) were studied between 300 MHz and 900 MHz. At 38 µm, the capacitance was adequately measured, but for 125 µm the slope capacitance versus temperature curve decreased before 900 MHz due to the electrothermal breakdown between 60 °C and 80 °C. Thus, for 125 µm, the capacitance was studied applying 600 MHz. Sensitivity at 38 µm at 868 MHz (0.045 pF/°C) was lower than 125 µm at 600 MHz (0.14 pF/°C), influencing the results in the simulation (temperature range versus time) of meat cooking; at 125 µm, the sensitivity was greater, mainly during chilling steps. The potential of gelatin as a temperature sensor was demonstrated, and a balance between thickness and frequency should be considered to increase the sensitivity.

Polymers can be classified as synthetic polymers and natural polymers, and are often characterized by their most typical functions namely their high mechanical resistivity, electrical conductivity and dielectric properties. This bibliography report consists in: (i) Defining the origins of the dielectric properties of natural polymers by reviewing proteins. Despite their complex molecular chains, proteins present several points of interest, particularly, their charge content conferring their electrical and dielectric properties; (ii) Identifying factors influencing the dielectric properties of protein films. The effects of vapors and gases such as water vapor, oxygen, carbon dioxide, ammonia and ethanol on the dielectric properties are put forward; (iii) Finally, potential development of protein films as bio-sensors coated on electronic devices for detection of environmental changes particularly humidity or carbon dioxide content in relation with dielectric properties variations are discussed. As the study of the dielectric properties implies imposing an electric field to the material, it was necessary to evaluate the impact of frequency on the polymers and subsequently on their structure. Characterization techniques, on the one hand dielectric spectroscopy devoted for the determination of the glass transition temperature among others, and on the other hand other techniques such as infra-red spectroscopy for structure characterization as a function of moisture content for instance are also introduced.

This publication is linked to the following EFSA Supporting Publications article: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/sp.efsa.2017.EN-1224/full