Why You Should Avoid Using Styrofoam Takeout Containers

For years, humans have eaten and drank out of styrofoam utensils, unaware of the danger it posed not only to their health but also to the environment.

Styrofoam- the consumers’ name for polystyrene foam – is made of styrene monomers which is a plastic derived from petroleum. Polystyrene foam is not only hazardous to human health, but it is also hazardous to the environment.

The Dangers Of Styrofoam

Missouri Poison Center warns against using styrofoam due to the gagging and choking hazard if a big piece of styrofoam is consumed.  There is a potential that the fragment will become lodged in the esophagus.

Regarding eco-friendliness, styrofoam is not biodegradable and can stay in the environment for years.

It does, however, break down into smaller and smaller fragments known as micro-plastics, but these again cause bigger problems. 

Since the pieces are light, they are readily blown by the wind or washed away by rain into bodies of water. These incredibly fragile pieces break into little pieces that animals consume.

In many cases, turtles, fish, birds, and other creatures mistake it for food if it ends up in the environment.

Recycling Styrofoam Is Expensive

Microplastics are frequently invisible to the naked eye, making cleanup exceedingly difficult.

To recycle styrofoam, a company has to invest large amounts of money in some machinery and pricey compacting equipment. Furthermore, it is difficult to gather since the material splits into hundreds of small pieces due to its lightness!

In the end, many companies just give up, and the result is that styrofoam isn’t recycled but is left to fill additional landfills year after year.

The Amazing Eco-Friendly Alternate To Styrofoam

The bottom line is that styrofoam is one of the most significant hazardous waste generators in the United States.

This is why we at  Custom Cup Factory LLC (CCF) offer ECO-Friendly custom printed disposable cups, disposable cutlery, drink containers, and storage containers that are disposable and 100% biodegradable. We have paper cups, paper ice cream containers, paper straws, and even custom printed paper shopping bags.

Our Bamboo series includes soup containers and meal boxes that are compostable and biodegradable since they are constructed entirely of bamboo fiber. Similarly, we also have containers and paper plates made from unbleached plant fiber. Contact us here.