Q&A makes sense of science behind plastics packaging

A question and answer session held ‘live’ on social networking site, Twitter, drew on experts to answer some of the concerns from the general public about the ‘scare stories’ often reported about plastics packaging.

The session was held in collaboration between Sense about Science, a UK-based charitable trust that aims to make sense of scientific claims in public discussion, the British Plastics Federation’s (BPF) Packaging Group as well as an independent toxicologist from Imperial College London.

“With stories circulating in the media regarding the safety of plastic containers for food, as well as misinformed articles based on important chemical components of plastic packaging, this is a fantastic opportunity for consumers to gain an understanding of the benefits of plastic packaging and to put their questions to the experts,” commented the BPF.

During the session Katherine Fleet, Environment and Sustainbility Manager at RPC (representing the British Plastic Federation's Packaging Group) and Professor Alan Boobis from Imperial College London, answered over 30 questions relating to a variety of topics including the use of Bisphenol A, reducing the weight, use and types of plastics packaging, toxic phthalates and biodegradables.

To read the answers given in the Q&A session, click here.