Why, if your boyfriend comes home with Styrofoam plates, it’s worth your time to return them.

First, Just a quick note that it’s worth checking out this week’s Newsweek cover story—which is on the gradual trend toward environmental sensitivity—if for nothing else than to hear about a few creative solutions to the challenge of sustainability. The article dotes on resource-conscious architects, environmentally sensitive cities, and farmers beginning to grow as much corn for fuel as for food. Of course, it also brings up the fact that corporate consultants and marketing guru’s have already realized that the portion of well-to-do individuals who care about the environment form a lucrative market segment, and with a bit of research and creativity there are an endless slew of “environmentally friendly” profitable enterprises to capitalize on this trend (I’m not so much a fan of this). But aside from the fact that there are entire organizations devoted to the opportunities that this “$227 billion dollar market” holds, as this article emphasizes, the issue of our planet’s health is a real one, and that its health is on the decline. Which is an important thing to be reminded of from time to time. And while a lot of the changes that need to come to help prevent this damage are on a macro level, I firmly believe that a multitude of individual decisions add up to something.

And in that vein, I find myself today wanting to put out a simple message. Avoid Styrofoam. This, I guarantee you, is in many ways an incredibly simple and easy thing to do. In other ways, it’s a bit more tricky, but you can always choose the easy route and still be doing something.

My inspiration for this comes after a little trip to the grocery store last week to stock up on food and drinks for a barbecue/bonfire on the beach. Splitting up in the store, I headed off to grab some lettuce while asking Conor to grab some paper plates. Meeting back up at the checkout line (where I pulled out my handy Green Bags to pack our groceries in), I noticed the plates passing over the scanner for the first time, and instantaneously found myself asking out loud, “you got Styrofoam??”

Before the words came out of my mouth, I didn’t realize that a distinction between Styrofoam plates and it’s alternatives in the grocery aisle even registered in my mind. I guess that’s because I never even considered selecting Styrofoam before. What seemed like an obvious thing to avoid I guess wasn’t so obvious to everyone, because Conor turned to me with an innocent and surprised look on his face, also not realizing I cared about the distinction among the various kinds of disposable plates.

While I’ve always been subconsciously aware that paper plates are better than Styrofoam, I couldn’t have told you specifically why. So I did some research. I also walked the 150 steps back to the grocery store and returned the plates.

Three facts about Styrofoam:

1. Styrofoam is non-biodegradable. As with plastic, Styrofoam never fully decomposes when discarded. And not only does it take hundreds of years to decompose, the small pieces are often digested by animals.

2. Styrofoam is difficult to recycle. Compared with plastic and paper, the facilities to recycle Styrofoam are quite scarce. While many recycling centers accept plastic, and many cities pick up plastic recycled goods with their trash services, Styrofoam recycling is fairly uncommon, And, unfortunately, in the absence of convenience recycling options much of the Styrofoam we use winds up in the trash.

3. The process of manufacturing Styrofoam is dangerous. Styrofoam is essentially made by blowing air into the plastic-like substance polystyrene, making it big and fluffy. Simple enough, however the actual process of doing so is not exactly pristine. According to EarthResource, "The National Bureau of Standards Center for Fire Research identified 57 chemical byproducts released during the combustion of polystyrene foam. " Partially responsible for this is the “blowing agent” involved in the process, which commonly contain hydrofluorocarbons (HCFC’s), which omit fumes that deplete the ozone layer. This is recognized by the EPA has actually mandated a phase-out of HCFC’s, banning them by 2030.

Furthermore, another element of Styrofoam production has been found to be hazardous to the health of factory workers, who may be exposed to dangerous levels. Styrene, which is the building block of Styrofoam, is toxic in high levels, with harmful health effects which range from irritation of the skin and eyes to affecting normal kidney function. The EPA and International Agency for Research on Cancer both classify Styrene as a “possible human carcinogen.”

So, what can you do instead? Here are 7 ways to avoid Styrofoam, ranked from easiest to, hardest.

No excuse not to:

1. Select another option. If you are in the grocery store buying disposable plates, simply select the paper ones rather than the Styrofoam. Paper is biodegradeable, renewable, and recyclable, whereas Styrofoam is 0 for 3.
2. Split a meal with a friend. If you suspect you might have leftovers next time you go out to eat, try sharing a meal with a friend and sparing the Styrofoam container you would have received with your leftovers.

Minute amount of effort:

3. Use reusable containers. If you picnic often or bring your work to lunch every day, consider buying a set of reusable plates or bowls. These can even be found just a few aisles down from the disposable plate section of your grocery store.
4. Ask for your leftovers to be wrapped in foil or plastic. If you are taking half a sandwich home there’s no need to use up an entire container, just ask for some foil to wrap it up in.
   

Only if you’re feeling up to it:

5. Recycle your Styrofoam. Even if you are able to incorporate all the changes above, there will probably be times you come across Styrofoam, for example, packaging of many electronics. Yes, it might be a bit of effort, but consider finding a local facility that recycles Styrofoam.
6. Suggest Styrofoam alternatives. Suggest that your favorite dining establishments use Styrofoam alternatives for take out boxes and containers, and perhaps even point them in the direction of companies that anufacture biodegradeable disposable products, such as those made by simplybiodegradable.
   
7. Demand alternative packing materials. Next time you receive a package or shipment packed with Styrofoam, send a letter requesting they look for alternative packing materials. Ecocycle.org has even put together a sample letter you can use as a template if you are really feeling lazy. Download it in MS word format here.
   

So now's the part of the post where if I were talented I'd sketch a stay puft marshmallow man-esque creature made out of Styrofoam and paste it here to remind you that Styrofoam=not good. But my artisitc talent's aren't my strong point so you'll just have to picture that in your head.