3. Packaging with a modified environmental impact

Assessing the environmental impact of incorporating nanoparticles into packaging again requires a two-pronged approach, based on an evaluation of the eco-toxicity of nanomaterials used in the packaging industry, and on characterizing the exposure of the various ecosystems generated by this sector of activity.

Here too, the first criterion goes beyond the confines of packaging, and numerous research programs are currently underway to measure the impact of these substances on the flora and fauna of an ecosystem. On the second point, simply measuring the quantity of nanoparticles present in a given medium remains difficult, as analytical approaches need to be adapted to each category of nanoparticle and to all types of medium. Given that certain nanoparticles can easily circulate from one medium to another, without us having any precise idea of the extent of their...