As a result, PEF (polyethylene furanoate), a plant-based plastic made from FDCA, is now eligible for use in food-contact applications in Japan, where only substances included on the Positive List are permitted. This is an important step forward for sustainable packaging solutions in one of the world’s key markets.
Japan introduced its Positive List (PL) system for synthetic resins in 2020 to ensure that only safe, approved substances are used in food-contact materials. The now implemented Positive List system places clear emphasis on the individual components used to produce plastics for food packaging. With FDCA now included on Japan’s Positive List, PEF can be more broadly adopted for sustainable food packaging across the Japanese market. This builds on existing food contact approvals already granted in Europe and the United States.
