Trinseo | Trinseo to Provide Expert Speaker at Plastic Food Contact Packaging Safety Workshop in Indonesia

January 16, 2018

Trinseo to Provide Expert Speaker at Plastic Food Contact Packaging Safety Workshop in Indonesia

Trinseo (NYSE: TSE), a global materials solutions provider and manufacturer of plastics, latex binders and synthetic rubber, has been asked to join government, university and industry experts at a media workshop this week in Indonesia to present factual information on polystyrene (PS) resins PS, the raw material for making foam food services.

Trinseo offers high impact polystyrene and general purpose polystyrene products for applications like dairy, food service, ambient, deli & bakery, frozen/chilled, and more.

Plastics, especially PSfoam, also commonly known as Styrofoam, are widely used as food packaging materials butthe \ safety of the materials is of general concern. Some cities in the world have started banning PS foam foodservice, believing it is a source of solid pollution and will cause health issues. Some believe the chemical of the foodservice will migrate to food causing adverse health effects. There are recent public concerns in Indonesia as well.

In response to the public discussion in Indonesia, the following organizations have joined forces to organize a media workshop “We don’t think strawberries cause cancer - The Myths and Facts about Styrofoam Food Packaging”:

1. Polimer Lestar
2. Laboratory of Technology of Polymer and Membrane, Institute of Technology Bandung (LTPM ITB)
3. Indonesian Olefin, Aromatic and Plastic Association (INAplas)

In the media workshop, experts from well-known university, government official, recycling association, foodservice manufacturer, and raw material supplier in Indonesia have been invited to present a complete picture to the media, supported by scientific facts and figures, to relieve some unnecessary concerns and help find a better solution. Trinseo is being invited to present at the workshop, to provide factual information about PS resins, the raw material for making PS foam food services, and the history and current plastic food packaging regulations within and beyond Indonesia.

PS has been a safe material for using in food contact applications and it is a widely approved material for decades. And there are reasons behind why this polymer has been approved by so many authorities and its being so popular among the societies across different continents. Trinseo welcomes the initiative from Polimer Lestari, LTPM ITB & INAplas. And being a subject expert, we believe we are have a role to play in clearing some misunderstandings and to educate the general public in Indonesia about PS foam safety in food contact applications.

Date     :           January 18, 2018 (Thursday)
Time    :           0845 – 1300 hours
Venue :           Meeting Rooms Rose & Veronica, Hotel Mulia Senayan Jakarta

The agenda is as follows:

09.20 – 09.50: Polystyrene in Our Daily Life
Ir. Akhmad Zainal Abidin , M.Sc., Ph.D
Scientist/Researcher
Laboratory Technology Polimer and Membrane Institut Teknologi Bandung (LTPM ITB)

09.50 – 10.20: Safety Considerations for Plastic Food Contact Packaging
Libby Fong
Product Stewardship Specialist
Trinseo (HK) Limited

10.20 – 10.50: Polystyrene Foam Based Food Packaging
Dra. Ani Rohmaniyati, M.Si. BPOM
Head of Sub Directorate of Standardization of Product and Hazardous Substance
BPOM Indonesia

10.50 – 11.10: Recycling Polystyrene Food Packaging & Waste Management
Christine Halim
Chairlady
Indonesia Plastic Recycle Association (ADUPI)

11.10 – 11.30: Polystyrene Foam Contribution to Indonesia’s Economy & Industry
Wahyudi Sulistya
Director
Kemasan Group

11.30 – 12.00: Panel Q&A Session