Help Stamp Out Styrofoam

Styrofoam, or polystyrene foam, is one of the more troublesome members of the plastic family.  This week’s “Change the World Wednesdays” challenge involves getting rid of styrofoam and raising awareness about it.

Change the World Wednesdays

Visit Reduce Footprints to read the Honor Roll from last week and to explore what other people are doing with this week’s challenge.  Here is the latest challenge for you:

For one week, say “NO” to polystyrene foam (commonly known as Styrofoam). This means … don’t buy it (no Styrofoam coolers, cups or toys), don’t use it and don’t buy anything that comes in it. At restaurants, should you have leftover food to take home, ask the server to put it in something other than Styrofoam. At fast-food establishments, refuse to buy any products which come in it. Just Say No!

Or …

If your life is already Styrofoam free, then write a post about why Styrofoam is so bad for the environment.

Problems With Styrofoam

Styrofoam has many drawbacks.  Here are a few of them.  For most products these outweigh the benefits.

• Polystyrene contains the carcinogen styrene, which can leach into food or beverages - especially when heated.  Polystyrene is also suspected of disrupting the hormones that govern body development.
• Used primarily for disposable items, styrofoam introduces much waste to the environment after a very brief use-life.  A good rule of thumb is that a material’s life should not greatly exceed the use-life of products made from it (with the exception of certain single-use medical supplies and other vital items), especially for trivial or convenient purposes.
• As a foam, polystyrene contains a great deal of air, making it both bulky and buoyant.  This causes problems in the Earth’s hydrosphere as animals swallow or choke on it, then die.

Alternatives to Styrofoam

Many other materials can take the place of styrofoam, depending on the product.  Let’s take a look at what else we could use for …

Packing

Those packing peanuts are an unnecessary pollutant.  Use wadded paper, which is recyclable, biodegradable, and renewable.  Another option would be packing peanuts made from meltaway plant starch, such as Puffy Stuff.

Disposable Containers & Eating Ware

These are used for only a few minutes, but as waste can last for years. Instead, use paper or biodegradable foam made from plants.  Biocorp offers a selection of cups, plates, bags, etc.  BioBox is a good choice for containers. Reusable, washable containers and utensils are also excellent.

Insulation

This can be a long-term use, and styrofoam is very effective … but it’s still Earth-hostile.  Consider green-building insulation made from cotton fiber, recycled paper, or other materials.