Takeaway food & drink packaging in our environment
Lots of takeaway food and drink packaging is made using polystyrene, or a mix of material such as paper and plastic. For example takeaway chip boxes are often made of polystyrene (commonly known as the trademark Styrofoam) and disposable beverage cups tend to have a plastic lining and paper or card outer. These materials are used because they are strong and versatile and are effective in keeping food and drinks warmer for longer.
Problems preventing recycling
Whilst plastic, polystyrene and single-use packaging are really convenient for takeaways and meals on-the-go, they are not good for our environment. Both polystyrene and plastic linings in paper cups are made from oil, requiring fossil fuels to be extracted and processed. Once made into our disposable packaging, the plastic, paper and polystyrene often can’t be recycled because of contamination from food and drink. Plastic-lined paper packaging is either impossible or very difficult to recycle due to their mix of materials. As a result, much of this waste will go straight to incineration or landfill where it could remain for over 500 years as these items do not easily breakdown. Plastic and polystyrene not only pose a risk to the environment because they don’t break down but they also contain harmful chemicals. Takeaway packaging makes up a significant proportion of litter in both urban areas and in beauty hotspots like Fidra’s hometown of North Berwick, posing a risk to wildlife from ingestion, entanglement and the chemicals they contain.
Harmful chemicals in packaging
With growing public concern about plastic pollution, especially in coastal areas, Fidra recognises that more businesses are moving away from polystyrene and plastic packaging, with many opting for either paper and board or compostable alternatives. Whilst Fidra celebrates this transition, such food containers can have a chemical coating, made from PFAS (poly or per-fluorinated alkyl substances), which provides a grease- and water-resistant barrier. Despite health and environmental concerns about a number of chemicals used in paper and board Fidra believe there is insufficient regulation of paper and board food contact materials and the chemicals they contain.
Take a look at our project on PFAS and work on preventing chemical pollution for more information.