FS900260 Alternatives to single use plastics in food packaging and production

Tenders are invited to carry out an assessment and establish a baseline understanding of the risk and opportunity associated with use of plastics in the food system in terms of sustainability and food safety; to identify the main alternatives to single-use plastics in terms of materials and their functions; and to understand potential future developments in this area.

The questions to be addressed in the assessment are: - What are the potential risks and opportunities posed by the use of single-use plastic alternatives in food packaging and production, in terms of: o food safety? o vulnerable consumers - such as those with allergies or hypersensitivity? o environmental and sustainability credentials (for example, environmental impact of production process, disposability issues)? - In the next ten years, how will the development of alternatives to single-use plastics in food packaging and production evolve? - How will alternatives to single-use plastics affect food regulation?

What steps (if any) should the FSA take to protect consumers and strengthen the food system, both in terms of food safety and by supporting any positive effects of its developments?