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Styrofoam almost perfectly demonstrates the issues of recyclability and suitability for food containers that also apply to plastics in general: (Note that what
by mgdlbp 5y ago
Styrofoam almost perfectly demonstrates the issues of recyclability and suitability for food containers that also apply to plastics in general:
(Note that what we generically call styrofoam is expanded polystyrene (XPS), which isn't quite the same material as the original 'Styrofoam' brand of extruded polystyrene (EPS) insulation board. The commonality is the polymer they're made from, polystyrene (PS), which is also used as "normal" moulded plastic.)
Virtually no polystyrene foam is recycled (and most municipal recycling rejects PS entirely). This is because of the same economic unviability of recycling that plagues most plastics, just greatly exacerbated by the low density of foams. Similarly, the issue with Styrofoam food containers is much more immediate than microplastics in general: PS releases its toxic monomer styrene when heated, which just about makes coffee cups and fast food containers its worst possible use case. But the low price and insulative properties of the foam render it popular still in jurisdictions where it's legal.
Also: Rigid polystyrene is used in food containers, too (e.g., yoghurt containers and disposable plastic cups). And another popular polymer, ABS, also contains styrene (hence the recommendation for ventilation when 3D printing it).
- kwhitefoot 5y agoThis is easy to fix if the political will is there. In Norway yoghurt containers, etc., are made of polypropylene not polystyrene
- Reason077 5y ago> "Virtually no polystyrene foam is recycled" Sadly this doesn't seem stop people from jamming up our building's recycling bins with tons of the stuff. Or IKEA, Samsung, and their ilk from producing tons of it to use in product packaging. Horrible stuff!
- gernb 5y agoIsn't that changing? https://www.intelligentliving.co/ikea-mushroom-based-packaging/ https://www.intelligentliving.co/ikea-mushroom-based-packagi...
- Reason077 5y agoHopefully - I might be being a bit harsh on IKEA specifically. There's certainly a lot of "IKEA-like furniture" PS foam packaging out there that I often see overflowing the recycling.
- Ekaros 5y agoMost of the stuff I have bought from Ikea seem to be mostly carboard packaging. Which isn't actually that horrible for recycling when it is uncontaminated like stuff used for flatpack furniture is.
- mahkeiro 5y agoFoam is almost non existent in 2022 Ikea packaging. It's almost all 99% cardboard.
- Reason077 5y agoGlad to hear it. Now we just need to get a lot of other lesser-known manufacturers to follow their lead!
- midasuni 5y agoI haven’t had an ikea box with polystyrene for years
- smileysteve 5y agoThough it depends on the target. Polystyrene requires less water and energy that cardboard or injection molded plastics; and protects goods better. (Egg transportation has been studied) On eggs: Polystyrene is also very reusable and recyclable in sorted recycling (aka taking back to the grocery store)
- Reason077 5y ago> "PS releases its toxic monomer styrene when heated, which just about makes coffee cups and fast food containers its worst possible use case." Better or worse than paper-based cups and food packaging laced with PFAS ("forever" fluorochemicals) to make them waterproof and greaseproof?