Scientists raise compostable container safety concerns

Researchers from the University of Queensland (UQ) are analysing takeaway food packaging for potentially polluting chemicals.

Sarit Kaserzon from UQ’s Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS) said following the increase of plastic alternatives in response to bans on single-use plastics, there is a very limited understanding of the chemicals within these alternative products.

“We want to understand how these chemicals may persevere when the packaging is composted or recycled, leading to potential human and environmental exposure,” Kaserzon said.

Research has found chemicals such as mineral oils, flame retardants and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in non-compostable paper containers, additives which enhance structural integrity and resistance to heat, water and grease.

PFAS are synthetic compounds which have been linked to human health problems. They are estimated to be present in 40% of food contact papers in the USA.

The UQ project aims to understand if similar substances are present in compostable products.

Fisher Wang from QAEHS said the finds will inform regulatory decisions to ensure safe and sustainable use and disposal of compostable food packaging in Australia.

“Working closely with government and industry partners, we will test compostable and/or biodegradable food contact materials to identify the concentrations of chemicals of concern and then determine the persistence of these chemicals in the organics resource recovery stream,” Wang said.

According to Wang, understanding the way chemicals can persist past their intended use can help to work out ways of protecting people and the environment.

The research is funded through the Australian Research Council Linkage Projects grant scheme.

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