Best Practices guide published

A novel “Best Practice Guide for the Safe Handling and Use of Nanoparticles in Packaging Industries” is now available to support those working with nanomaterials at all stages in the development of packaging products.

The Best Practice Guide is the final output of ‘NanoSafePack’, a 36 month project funded under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).  The development of the guide was informed by novel research activities undertaken as part of this project, as well as wider state-of-the-art knowledge in the field of nanosafety.

Primarily intended for use by SMEs and larger companies involved in the manufacture of polymer-based nanocomposites for packaging applications, the Best Practice Guide provides practical advice and recommendations which are easy to understand, use and apply in an industrial setting.  This includes technical information concerning the specific applications and properties of nanofillers and polymer-based nanocomposites, as well as new scientific knowledge and guidance on environmental, health, and safety issues. 

To accompany the full version of Best Practice Guide, a shorter Mini-Guide has also been developed, which is freely available in five languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian.  The Mini-Guide provides an overview of:

• the main benefits of nanotechnology in the packaging industry;
• the structure and contents of the full version of the Best Practice Guide; and
• recommendations for the safe handling and use of nanofillers and polymer-based nanocomposites, demonstrated using a number of case studies.