An rising variety of cities and states are banning polystyrene, generally generally known as Styrofoam, for well being and environmental causes. But these bans go away eating places and different companies trying to find different supplies to make use of for his or her merchandise.
In Virginia, a regional public service initiative has stepped as much as educate enterprise house owners and residents to allow them to make wholesome and sustainable day by day selections.
As Information Channel 10 WAVY reported, askHRgreen.org helps companies transition away from Styrofoam containers and use eco-friendly options as an alternative.
The Hampton Roads Planning District Fee launched the general public consciousness program to handle sustainable residing subjects resembling recycling, landscaping, and water conservation. With Virginia’s polystyrene ban in impact as of July 1, 2025, meals service operators should discover and use eco-friendlier containers.
Virginia’s ban requires massive meals service firms with at the very least 20 areas to remove polystyrene from their operations. Smaller firms should adjust to the ban by July 1, 2026.
Virginia is the fourth state within the nation to ban single-use polystyrene containers.
“There are higher selections out there,” mentioned Katie Cullipher, a group chief at askHRgreen.org. “Our objective is to assist small companies perceive the brand new regulation, discover sensible options, and finally contribute to a cleaner, more healthy area for everybody.”
The askHRgreen.org initiative is inspiring as a result of it offers inexperienced academic sources to enterprise house owners to ease the Styrofoam ban transition.
The group provides polystyrene-free pattern kits for meals institutions to strive for themselves. The kits embrace packaging options resembling paper, recyclable aluminum, and sugarcane fiber. The samples additionally include promotional window clings, exercise books, and different public consciousness marketing campaign supplies.
This service aids the higher good for human well being and the atmosphere. In keeping with askHRgreen.org, polystyrene stays in landfills for over 500 years, poses ingestion dangers to wildlife, and cannot be domestically recycled.
This outdated and dangerous packaging materials contributes to our planet’s rising, long-term air pollution drawback. Whereas including to piles of litter on land and in water, it is also linked to most cancers and nervous system injury in people.
By serving to eating places discover sensible, inexpensive, and fewer dangerous packaging choices for his or her takeout orders, we will cut back individuals’s publicity to poisonous Styrofoam and promote more healthy meals techniques.
Even for those who do not dwell in an space that has applied a Styrofoam ban, you may ditch dangerous meals containers if you dine out. By bringing your individual to-go containers to eating places, you cut back your trash contribution and might wash and reuse your containers for future meals.
In Virginia, restaurant house owners can request free pattern kits on-line to study different supplies and make knowledgeable, sustainable selections.
“Going foam free is not only a requirement – it is a accountable enterprise selection,” in accordance with askHRgreen.org. “Present your prospects you care about their well being, your group, and the planet. Let’s ditch the froth and select higher, collectively.”
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