| No Foam in Paradise! |
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| HawaiiGreenPages.com © 2011 All rights reserved. |
Just as the Native Hawaiians knew and practiced "aloha 'aina" Love
of the land; to nurture and care for the land, the world can learn
from them as we collectively face environmental destruction.
Styrophobia.com was a natural merging of concepts fueled by love
of nature, a heightened awareness of our global community and the
passion to want to contribute to healing our environment. Excess
waste materials negatively impact our environment. As a vigorous
consumer society, we use a multitude of goods which create
volumes of packaging waste that pollute beaches, marshes and
choke landfills. There needs to be a better balance of lifestyle and
consumption choices and protecting nature. This is especially
evident in our Hawai'i home - an island microcosm - where limited
landfill space is beyond full capacity, beaches are polluted with
plastics and marine life washes ashore dead, entangled in plastic
debris. Ocean currents float garbage from around the world right
to our beautiful doorstep. We cringe at these sights, thus STYRO-
PHOBIA...Just as well-placed fear provides us a survival instinct - the
fear of plastics in our environment provides us an opportunity to
help save our planet and with it our species. Each time a plastic
container is thrown away its lifespan is hundreds of years in our
environment, leaching toxins and choking marine life.
* 73 billion Styrofoam™ cups/plates thrown away every year
* 190 billion plastic containers and bottles thrown away every year
What is wrong with expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam?
Health effects of polystyrene on the human body
Medical evidence suggests that chemicals, as benzene & styrene in
EPS foam are carcinogenic and may leach into food and drink.
Polystyrene is produced from styrene, a known human neurotoxin
and animal carcinogen, attacking the central and peripheral
nervous systems. Not only is there styrene left over from EPS
manufacturing, but styrene has been shown to leach out from EPS
packaging under a variety of circumstances--most notably when in
contact with an acidic food (such as adding lemon to your tea),
contact with hot foods, or when food containing vitamin A, which
breaks down EPS, is microwaved.
Petroleum:
Made from crude oil and like all plastics, is non-renewable, non-
biodegradable, and practically non-recyclable. It ends up in
landfills, waterways and oceans, leaching toxins for hundreds of
years. It takes approximately 430,000 gallons of oil to produce 100
million non-degradable plastic bags, the equivalent of keeping
140,000 cars off the street for a day (Source: SF DOE) Petroleum is
not only becoming an increasingly scarce source, but it causes
pollution and toxicity every step of its use- extraction,
transportation (oil spills), refining and eventual production of the
end use product.
Environment:
EPS cups, containers and plastic bags, are a major source of
pollution on our beaches - especially after a rainstorm. EPS breaks
down into small pieces, often mistaken for food by marine animals,
birds and fish. Once swallowed, it either acts as a poison or fills the
stomach causing reduced appetite and nutrient absorption, often
leading to slow starvation. According to the Alguita Research
Institute (www.alguita.com), the ratio of plastics to plankton (a
major food source for many marine animals) in the oceans is
currently 6:1 and rapidly increasing.
Styrophobia.com offers sustainable products, including
biodegradables for everyday consumption choices. Non-petroleum
based products which reduce the impact of our consumption on
the environment. Raising awareness of compostable disposables
made from readily renewable resources like sugarcane, corn &
potato. We bring to market a fair priced range of biodegradable &
compostable takeout containers, plates, food service and packaging
products for use in restaurants, schools, companies, and cafeterias.
We carry takeout containers, sugar cane plates, disposable cups
and utensils including bioplastic bags, PLA cups and containers.
of the land; to nurture and care for the land, the world can learn
from them as we collectively face environmental destruction.
Styrophobia.com was a natural merging of concepts fueled by love
of nature, a heightened awareness of our global community and the
passion to want to contribute to healing our environment. Excess
waste materials negatively impact our environment. As a vigorous
consumer society, we use a multitude of goods which create
volumes of packaging waste that pollute beaches, marshes and
choke landfills. There needs to be a better balance of lifestyle and
consumption choices and protecting nature. This is especially
evident in our Hawai'i home - an island microcosm - where limited
landfill space is beyond full capacity, beaches are polluted with
plastics and marine life washes ashore dead, entangled in plastic
debris. Ocean currents float garbage from around the world right
to our beautiful doorstep. We cringe at these sights, thus STYRO-
PHOBIA...Just as well-placed fear provides us a survival instinct - the
fear of plastics in our environment provides us an opportunity to
help save our planet and with it our species. Each time a plastic
container is thrown away its lifespan is hundreds of years in our
environment, leaching toxins and choking marine life.
* 73 billion Styrofoam™ cups/plates thrown away every year
* 190 billion plastic containers and bottles thrown away every year
What is wrong with expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam?
Health effects of polystyrene on the human body
Medical evidence suggests that chemicals, as benzene & styrene in
EPS foam are carcinogenic and may leach into food and drink.
Polystyrene is produced from styrene, a known human neurotoxin
and animal carcinogen, attacking the central and peripheral
nervous systems. Not only is there styrene left over from EPS
manufacturing, but styrene has been shown to leach out from EPS
packaging under a variety of circumstances--most notably when in
contact with an acidic food (such as adding lemon to your tea),
contact with hot foods, or when food containing vitamin A, which
breaks down EPS, is microwaved.
Petroleum:
Made from crude oil and like all plastics, is non-renewable, non-
biodegradable, and practically non-recyclable. It ends up in
landfills, waterways and oceans, leaching toxins for hundreds of
years. It takes approximately 430,000 gallons of oil to produce 100
million non-degradable plastic bags, the equivalent of keeping
140,000 cars off the street for a day (Source: SF DOE) Petroleum is
not only becoming an increasingly scarce source, but it causes
pollution and toxicity every step of its use- extraction,
transportation (oil spills), refining and eventual production of the
end use product.
Environment:
EPS cups, containers and plastic bags, are a major source of
pollution on our beaches - especially after a rainstorm. EPS breaks
down into small pieces, often mistaken for food by marine animals,
birds and fish. Once swallowed, it either acts as a poison or fills the
stomach causing reduced appetite and nutrient absorption, often
leading to slow starvation. According to the Alguita Research
Institute (www.alguita.com), the ratio of plastics to plankton (a
major food source for many marine animals) in the oceans is
currently 6:1 and rapidly increasing.
Styrophobia.com offers sustainable products, including
biodegradables for everyday consumption choices. Non-petroleum
based products which reduce the impact of our consumption on
the environment. Raising awareness of compostable disposables
made from readily renewable resources like sugarcane, corn &
potato. We bring to market a fair priced range of biodegradable &
compostable takeout containers, plates, food service and packaging
products for use in restaurants, schools, companies, and cafeterias.
We carry takeout containers, sugar cane plates, disposable cups
and utensils including bioplastic bags, PLA cups and containers.
| Resources for Natural Living |
HawaiiGreenPages.com
| Bringing to market a fair priced range of compostable & biodegradable takeout containers, plates food service and packaging products for use in companies, schools, cafeterias, and restaurants. We carry sugar cane plates and takeout containers, containers and bioplastic bags. We are a Honolulu, Hawaii based organization that provides environmentally sound alternatives to Styrofoam? Products: It is used to make everything from cups to plates to "clamshell" takeout containers. It looks and feels like post paper. Bagasse biodegrades in 30 to 90 days, depending on compost conditions. Polystyrene never breaks down. Corn-starch bioplastics: What is it? Bioplastics are biodegradable plastic-like material made from corn starch. Other types of starches, such as potato and tapioca, can also be used. Products: Forks, spoons, cups, straws, shopping bags. Life span: Bioplastics break down in 90 to 180 days, depending on the composting environment. Petroleum-based plastics never break down. |
