Policy

Video: Titanium dioxide bans under consideration in several US states

By Lisa McDonald / January 31, 2024

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration remains firm in its guidance that titanium dioxide can be used as a food additive despite the European Commission’s decision to ban its use in 2022. In the past year, however, several U.S. state legislatures have introduced bills that would ban the use of TiO2 in food, as well as several other additives.

Read More

Video: New supply chain strategies aim to secure access to critical resources

By Lisa McDonald / January 24, 2024

In response to global supply chain disruptions, many governments are implementing new programs to ensure continued and secure access to critical resources. Learn about some recent programs that were announced in the past few months.

Read More

Video: California bans the use of fiberglass as a flame retardant in mattresses and upholstered furniture

By Lisa McDonald / October 18, 2023

As the health effects of chemical flame retardants became more well known, the use of fiberglass as a flame-retardant material grew in popularity. However, fiberglass comes with its own share of adverse health effects, and the U.S. state of California has now enacted a ban on its use as a flame retardant in mattresses and upholstered furniture.

Read More

Video: Rapid expansion of exploratory licenses in Tasmania worries landowners

By Lisa McDonald / September 13, 2023

The mining and minerals processing industries are economically significant sectors for the Australian island state of Tasmania. But as companies apply for more and more exploratory licenses to identify new minerals deposits, landowners in the state are concerned about the environmental impacts.

Read More

Video: Proposed ban threatens budding agrivoltaic industry in the Netherlands

By Lisa McDonald / July 12, 2023

Despite the recorded benefits of co-locating solar panels and crops, the erroneous belief that photovoltaics and agriculture are an either/or situation remains a common perspective in governing bodies around the world. In the past month, two media announcements out of the Netherlands reveal how a proposed ban on solar deployments on agricultural land could severely hamper the country’s budding agrivoltaic industry.

Read More

Video: Scotland’s proposed container recycling scheme faces delays and controversy

By Lisa McDonald / June 14, 2023

Over the past few years, the Scotland government has worked to develop a deposit return scheme to increase recycling rates for drink containers in the country. However, implementation of the scheme has been delayed due to pushback from retailers and drinks companies. A recent decision by the U.K. government excluding glass from the scheme has now pushed back the launch date to October 2025.

Read More

Video: Upcoming deadline risks deep-sea mining taking place without regulations

By Lisa McDonald / May 31, 2023

The International Seabed Authority is running up against a July 9 deadline to finish developing a code for deep-sea mining. The possibility of mineral exploitation taking place without regulations has marine scientists concerned because so much is still unknown about the environmental effects of this practice.

Read More

Video: UK announces new plan, new partnership for semiconductor industry

By Lisa McDonald / May 24, 2023

After a series of delays, the United Kingdom finally announced its strategy, as well as a new Japanese partnership, for supporting the semiconductor industry. Details of these plans—as well as industry response so far—are given in today’s CTT.

Read More

Video: Australia announces National Electric Vehicle Strategy

By Lisa McDonald / May 3, 2023

Traditionally, Australia has lagged far behind other developed countries in electric vehicle adoption. The government has now released a National Electric Vehicle Strategy to speed up adoption and support the transition to clean transportation.

Read More

Video: A new wave in the battle for data—China and the US clash over submarine cable control

By Lisa McDonald / April 5, 2023

The global submarine cable system carries about 95% of all global transnational communication data. In recent years, concerns that this network may be used to conduct espionage is driving a clash between China and the United States over which companies will secure contracts to lay strategic cable networks.

Read More