The new government ban on polystyrene food packaging is coming into effect. This includes any product that is sold for immediate consumption, like takeaway clamshells and coffee cups. This also covers the products that are supplied at work.
Polystyrene is a hard, solid plastic or foam and it’s found in everything from surfboards to the squishy white Styrofoam chips you get around fragile items. It is also used in the housing of appliances and electronics.
Customization
Styrofoam boxes can be shaped into many different designs and colours, offering an opportunity to personalize your packaging. They’re also lightweight, water resistant and food friendly. These features make them a convenient option for any gift. These products are available in a wide range of sizes and finishes, making them a versatile choice for any event or business.
Polystyrene chilly bins are the perfect solution for storing, transporting and preserving temperature sensitive produce. Made from tuff moulded special food-grade EPS, these products provide high thermal insulation and help regulate the temperature of your seafood during transit.
The Foam Factory specialises in shape moulding and hot wire computer cutting of EPS. These services allow them to create one-of-a-kind insulated covers for spas that are difficult to outfit with mass-produced products. They can even provide a service that allows businesses to supply their customers with reusable EPS coolers. This reduces the amount of single-use plastic packaging and helps to keep ozone depleting chemicals out of landfill.
Quality
Styrofoam is found everywhere, the outside of computer housings, surfboards, boogie boards and the protective packaging around fragile items. It’s also a problem because it’s not biodegradable and releases the toxic chemicals styrene and benzene into our environment. These toxins are known carcinogens and neurotoxins and are absorbed into our bloodstream. It can also linger in landfills for centuries.
Unlike polypropylene and polyethylene plastics, Styrofoam is difficult to recycle. Its high levels of contamination make it hard to pretreat for recycling systems, and most recycling companies do not accept it. However, some recyclers have adapted and developed innovative methods to recycle styrene.
Mitre 10 Expol recycles EPS expanded polystyrene foam but not the smooth foam type that is often used for takeaway food containers. They repurpose it into products such as EcoPods Quick Drain, Under Floor and Thermo Slab Sheets, and StyroDrain. It is still better to avoid this product as it is a poor choice for food containers.
Durability
Polystyrene Auckland is a durable material that can be used for insulation and packaging purposes. It can withstand heavy pressure and is ideal for transporting temperature-sensitive products. It also protects against moisture and odors. Polystyrene can be recycled to create new insulation and packaging materials, which is good news for the environment.
Polystyrene contains Styrene and Benzene, which are suspected carcinogens that can be absorbed by the human body. These substances are released when hot foods and liquids touch the polystyrene. It is also a bulky addition to landfill, where it will never break down.
If you are looking for an alternative to polystyrene, try TempGuard. This all-paper temperature assurance product can be kerbside-recycled in New Zealand, eliminating waste, cost and environmental contamination. It is also cheaper than traditional polystyrene and provides better insulation. It is also a safer choice for the environment as it reduces bee stress by keeping hives cool. Its insulated design also minimises food waste by absorbing pack condensation.
Environmentally Friendly
Often overlooked, the fact is that Polystyrene (better known as Styrofoam) has a massive negative impact on the environment. The petroleum-based plastic takes over 500 years to break down in landfills, releasing suspected carcinogens and neurotoxins that can affect human health. It also pollutes waterways and the oceans, and its manufacturing process contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer.
Fortunately, New Zealand is taking steps to reduce the environmental impact of EPS. One example is Mitre10’s new initiative to eliminate polystyrene and EPS takeaway food boxes by 2025.
Another way to keep EPS out of landfill is by recycling it. You can drop off EPS at various locations around New Zealand, including Devonport Community Recycling Centre. Junk Run recycles EPS by reforming it into products like shoe heels and picture frames, ensuring that the foam stays out of landfill. You can also donate it to charity, which will recycle it into a different product.