Harmful Effects Of Styrofoam On The Environment – Styrofoam cups are convenient because they are cheap and light. We often use them for take-out containers, disposable coffee cups, coolers and packing materials, but at what cost to the planet?

Here’s everything you need to know about the environmental impact of Styrofoam cups, why cities and towns are banning them, and how you can help the planet by choosing a Styrofoam alternative!

Harmful Effects Of Styrofoam On The Environment

Americans reportedly throw away 25 billion Styrofoam cups each year. Styrofoam cups are non-biodegradable. Throwing away so much used plastic is harmful for several reasons.

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First, Styrofoam cups are non-biodegradable. Instead of breaking down over time, Styrofoam cups break down into smaller pieces and remain in the environment for hundreds of years. Moreover, they take up valuable space in our landfills and release harmful chemicals into the environment.

Second, Styrofoam cups are difficult to clean. Styrofoam often escapes the waste collection system and ends up in land and water because it is easily blown away by the wind. Pieces of Styrofoam can be found in our parks, forests, beaches, oceans, and rivers.

For example, the San Diego chapter of the Surfrider Foundation claims that its volunteers have collected 12,575 pieces of Styrofoam from its beaches in one year.

The pollution created by Styrofoam is not only unsightly but also harmful to our planet’s animal life.

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Animals often mistake Styrofoam for food, causing harm or death due to starvation, suffocation, or chemical build-up in the digestive system.

When animals ingest Styrofoam, they are unable to complete their natural functions, which disturbs the ecosystem and affects the health of the ecological community.

Additionally, the negative effects feed back to humans because we eat marine life that has eaten the Styrofoam. According to National Geographic, humans ingest thousands of microplastics each year.

The infographic below from Sustainable Coastlines provides data on the debris with the greatest impact on our marine life.

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For example, for every Styrofoam cup that is produced, 0.07229 pounds of CO2 is released into the atmosphere. The United States produces about 3 million tons of Styrofoam each year. As a result, producing Styrofoam cups releases about 21 million tons of CO2 equivalent into the atmosphere every year.

Additionally, water is an important component of the production process. Water used in the manufacture of Styrofoam must be treated and purified before it is returned to the water supply. The process also releases about 1.3 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere every year.

Although CO2 is not inherently bad (it occurs naturally in our atmosphere and is essential for our survival), too much CO2 from unnecessary and artificial sources can overheat the planet and act as a pollutant. .

Because Styrofoam causes more harm than good, it doesn’t make sense to continue manufacturing when there are plenty of acceptable alternatives.

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Styrofoam is made from benzene and styrene. Both are carcinogenic substances that pose a health risk to Styrofoam producers and consumers.

Workers with long-term exposure to benzene and styrene are more likely to develop leukemia and lymphoma. Short-term exposure may affect the central nervous system with symptoms such as headache, fatigue, dizziness, confusion, drowsiness, restlessness, and difficulty concentrating.

Consumers are also exposed to styrene. Styrofoam containers and cups used in food and beverages often contain styrene that leaches out.

Foods that are high in fat, at high temperatures, or in Styrofoam containers for long periods of time are more likely to be contaminated.

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Remember, you should never microwave food in Styrofoam containers, and you should avoid drinking beverages, such as coffee, out of Styrofoam cups.

Some communities feel that the only way to completely curb the environmental impact of Styrofoam cups is to ban them altogether.

Styrofoam bans have been passed at the state and city levels. Maine was the first state to ban it and many others such as New York and New Jersey have followed suit along with Connecticut.

However, some restrictions have been delayed due to supply chain issues. Inflation and supply chain constraints can make purchasing approved containers and cups difficult.

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Opponents of the ban also cite increased costs for consumers and small restaurants because recyclable or biodegradable food containers can be more expensive.

This is a widely debated topic as some parties feel that the ban is necessary and will immediately reduce littering. Other parties disagree and say there is little evidence to show that the bans have helped the environment.

Would you use the cup for a cold drink at a party or for a hot cup of coffee at home? Those factors will come into play with the durability and style of the cup.

Additionally, what sustainability features are important to you? Will you compost the cup at home, or will you throw it away?

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For example, some products say, “compostable in commercial facilities,” so you may not be able to compost them at home.

It is made from bamboo and corn starch based materials making it 100% natural and biodegradable. Additionally, it is sturdy, plastic-free and can handle hot or cold drinks.

Likewise, these cups are 100% biodegradable and will not pollute the planet. They are made from unbleached kraft paper with a PLA coating so won’t add plastic to your drink.

These simple compostable cups have all the features above but are perfect for coffee as they have a rolled rim that fits all standard 90mm lids.

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Finally, these 100% biodegradable cups feature a neat grass design to let the world know your eco-friendly stance.

Ray McIntyre accidentally invented Styrofoam. Polystyrene already existed and was a good insulator. However, it was very fragile.

Ray was trying to develop a more flexible insulator. He mixed styrene with isobutylene under pressure. When the pressure was released, he found that isobutylene vaporized to form polystyrene foam with bubbles in it.

“Styrofoam” was born and quickly picked up because it was 30 times lighter and more flexible than polystyrene.

One Bottle At A Time

Styrofoam can only be recycled in certain cases. For example, Styrofoam must be clean before processing.

Unfortunately, most Styrofoam products are used in the food service industry, so they are usually contaminated with food residue and cannot be recycled.

Additionally, Styrofoam is very expensive to recycle. If recycling plants had clean foam to recycle, they would lose money processing it. It doesn’t make economic sense.

Rather than pay a higher price, the plants instead send Styrofoam to landfills, which is why it makes up 30% of the items in our landfills.

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Burning Styrofoam releases toxic chemicals and fumes into the air and can damage the nervous system and lungs.

From a health and environmental perspective, the costs of producing and using Styrofoam seem to outweigh the benefits. We believe that banning Styrofoam will move the needle and help our planet.

We recognize that compostable alternatives are more expensive, and each business and organization will have to decide how they manage the increased costs.

However, studies show that consumers are willing to pay a premium for sustainable products. The study notes that companies must prepare for sustainability to become the expectation rather than the exception in the future.

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We believe that restaurants, businesses and organizations that are slow to adopt and prefer to use cheap Styrofoam products will eventually lose customers and patronage.

Reusable cups, mugs, bowls and plates that you can wash after use are ideal. They often keep your food or drinks hot and last longer.

However, if you need to use disposable items, it is preferable to buy compostable or biodegradable cups, bowls and plates.

When ordering takeout, try to ask for minimal packaging and utensils. Many delivery services now offer this option!

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If you’re dining at an establishment with eco-friendly disposable products, let the owner or manager know you appreciate sustainable options. They will appreciate your business and recognition and be more inclined to offer additional eco-friendly products.

We can each do our part to limit the environmental impact of Styrofoam cups. Let us know what you’re doing in the comments below! According to a scientific team at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on Cape Cod, Mass., and Massachusetts, a major component of marine pollution is less destructive and more manageable than commonly portrayed. Institute of Technology

Previous studies, including one last year by the United Nations Environment Program, have estimated that polystyrene, a ubiquitous plastic found in trash, could take thousands of years to break down, making it nearly eternal. Is. But in a new paper, five scientists found that sunlight can degrade polystyrene over centuries or even decades.

“Policymakers generally assume that polystyrene lasts forever,” Colin P. Ward, a marine chemist in Woods Hole, said in a statement Thursday. “That’s part of the justification for writing the policy that prohibits it.” A primary rationale for his team’s study, he added, “was to understand whether polystyrene actually lasts forever.”

Why Styrofoam Is Bad For Your Health And The Planet

Polystyrene, a form of which often carries the brand name Styrofoam, is used to make disposable cups, straws, yogurt containers, disposable razors, plastic tableware, packaging materials and many other everyday items. which are disposed of in tons per day. Most of it ends up in the ocean. A swirling mass of discarded trash known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch located between Hawaii and California has been estimated

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