O-I moots making glass baby bottles in Europe over BPA plastics scare

Simeon Goldstein, packagingnews.co.uk, 25 March 2009

 

O-I is considering the production of glass baby bottles in Europe as a response to consumer fears over the Bisphenol A plastic additive.

 

Following the scare over traces of Bisphenol A (BPA) in plastic bottles in the US, O-I started to produce glass baby bottles for the first time in 20 years.

 

Vivika Remmel, O-I European food marketing manager, told Packaging News the firm was monitoring the situation in Europe to see if it was worth commencing production.

 

"We are certainly looking at demand for glass baby bottles, and if it was sufficient we are ready to produce bottles in Europe," she said.

 

Remmel said that glass was an ideal for making baby's bottles, because it is inert, doesn't leach chemicals and is 100% recyclable.

 

"Glass benefits in terms of health, safety and the environment which are all very important," she said.

 

BPA could be banned from plastic packaging and food containers in the US after the Ban Poisonous Additives Act of 2009 was lodged with the senate in Washington earlier this month.

 

However, the UK Food Standards Agency has argued that levels of BPA in plastic products were well below levels that were considered harmful.

 

The Food and Drink Association and the British Soft Drinks Association have also both said the additive is safe for use in packaging.