Identification and Evaluation of (Non-)Intentionally Added Substances in Post-Consumer Recyclates and Their Toxicological Classification

According to the European circular economy strategy, all plastic packaging placed on market by 2030 has be recyclable. However, for recycled plastics in direct contact with food, there are still major safety concerns because (non-)intentionally added substances can potentially migrate from polymers into foodstuffs. Therefore, Food Safety Authority (EFSA) derived very low migration limits (e.g., 0.1 µg/L polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and 0.06 high-density (HDPE)) polymers. Thus, use of recyclates post-consumer waste materials food is currently only possible PET. A first step assessing potential health hazards is, therefore, identification toxicological classification detected substances. Within this study, samples different packaging-relevant recycling (HDPE, LDPE, PE, PP, PET, PS) were analyzed. The identified examined a focus their abundance, toxicity (Cramer classification), polarity (log P values), chemical diversity, origin (post-consumer vs. virgin base polymer substances). It was demonstrated that polyolefins contain more classified as toxic than due higher diffusivity. In addition, despite its diffusivity compared polyolefins, high number found PS. Further, significantly toxicologically concerning Additionally, correlation between log values Cramer found. concluded PET complies EFSA’s requirements economy. better-structured collection systems cleaning processes, well analytical methods enable highly sensitive detection substances, might offer possibility implementing other processes future.