Corona Virus: interpack 2020 postponed
Messe Düsseldorf is postponing the leading international trade fair interpack. It is now scheduled to take place from 25 February to 3 March 2021. In doing so, Messe Düsseldorf is following the recommendation of the crisis management team of the German Federal Government to take into account the principles of the Robert Koch Institute when assessing the risk of major events. Based on this recommendation and the recent significant increase in the number of people infected with the new corona virus (SARS-CoV-2), including in Europe, Messe Düsseldorf has reassessed the situation. In addition, there is the general ruling issued by the city of Düsseldorf on 11 March 2020, in which major events with more than 1,000 participants present at the same time are generally prohibited.
Vietnamese scientists urge policies for biodegradable plastics
Vietnamese scientists are conducting research on plastic biodegradability in order to provide state management authorities with a scientific basis to develop technologies for plastic waste treatment and design a system of standards and regulations for bioplastic products. According to Associate Professor, Dr. Dang Thi Cam Ha of the Institute of Biotechnology (under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology – VAST), Vietnam has not yet issued any standards or regulations on biodegradable plastic bags although there are many products labeled “biodegradable plastic bags” in the market. “In order to have a scientific basis for management agencies to draft related policies, in 2019, we announced a number of studies on plastic biodegradability and assessments of the biodegradability of polymer and composite polymer,” Ha said.
Starbucks unveils trials for compostable cups
Coffee giant Starbucks has started to trial a new recyclable and compostable cup in some of its stores in New York, San Francisco, Seattle, London and Vancouver. Traditionally, Starbucks uses plastic to line its paper cups. Plastic lining within the paper cups makes it difficult to recycle in conventional recycling centres, and most cups end up in landfill. However, in this new move, the coffee chain will be using a compostable material called BioPBS to line its cups.