The industry consortium Cospatox has set itself the goal of defining the previously missing specific safety standards for post-consumer recyclates (PCR) for cosmetics and other household packaging. Cospatox has now announced that the results of its work should be available within 24 months.
Cospatox was founded in March 2021 and emerged from the Forum Recyclate emerged. This in turn was initiated by dm-drogerie markt in 2018 and now has 47 members across all sectors. Since the beginning of May 2021, the forum has been GS1 Germany managed. Members include. ALBA Group / ALBA / Interseroh, ALPLA Group, Amcor, Beiersdorf, Borealis, Der Grüne Punkt - Duales System Deutschland GmbH, L'Oréal, Dirk Rossmann GmbH, Siegwerk, Veolia and Weleda. Regular and mutual information about the work of both groups is to be continued.
Cospatox develops PCR safety standards
The name CosPaTox stands for Cosmetics, Packaging and Toxicology (cosmetics, packaging and toxicology). The initiative consists of large European brand owners the cosmetics, hygiene, detergent and cleaning agent industries in collaboration with dedicated Recycling company, plastics manufacturers and plastics processors, who are also counted among the members. In addition Scientific experts in the field of recycling post-consumer packaging waste (e.g. Fraunhofer IVV, FH Wien, Fabes) in order to implement a focused work programme in collaboration with industry specialists from the member companies.
The aim is to, Toxicological safety guidelinen for PCR used in cosmetics packaging, with an initial focus on polyolefins (PE and PP). Cospatox is focussing on three different types of packaging: Cosmetic leave-on, Cosmetics Rinse-off and Detergents and cleaning agents. This sequence reflects the increasing demands on recyclate quality.
The industry consortium is convinced that standardisation will also benefit companies that have so far refrained from using non-food PCR due to the lack of toxicological evaluation and standardisation.
Method development for practice
In addition to the determination of toxicologically safe limit values, the objective also includes the Creation of test and measurement methodsn that can be used quickly by recyclers on site. The development of rapid analytics is seen as essential for the future success of higher recyclate quotas, as it currently takes weeks to assess recyclate quality, e.g. via migration tests.
The Cospatox Consortium is, according to its own information open for new members, However, active participation requires „a high level of expertise in the areas of toxicology and the production and processing of plastic recyclates to enrich the work packages“. However, passive participation is also possible.
SourceCospatox : Cospatox
