Why are Styrofoam cups so expensive? (2023)

How much does it cost to make a Styrofoam cup?

Our model estimates the total hidden costs of Styrofoam (for the current production output of 3 million tons) at $7 billion annually. This represents an estimated hidden cost equivalent to 1.2 cents per Styrofoam cup produced.

Severyn said the shortage was impacted by a high demand in Styrofoam amid the pandemic and people not able to work.

In addition to their superior insulation properties, foam cups also hold carbonation better than paper alternatives. In fact, a soft drink in a foam cup will have more carbonation in it after 15 minutes than the same drink in a paper cup after two minutes.

Styrofoam cups are non-biodegradable. Throwing away this much single-use plastic is harmful for several reasons. First, Styrofoam cups are non-biodegradable. Instead of breaking down over time, Styrofoam cups break into tiny pieces and stay in the environment for hundreds of years.

Its commercial cost is due to its lightweight composition – Styrofoam is mostly made out tiny pellets of #6 plastic* and air, which makes it very light and easy to ship.

As of 2022, eight U.S. states and one territory have passed legislation to ban polystyrene foam. Maryland was the first state to institute a ban which went into effect on October 1, 2020. In Maine, a ban on polystyrene foam went into effect on July 1, 2021.

supply chain disruptions and high demand. at the peak of last year's covid season when many restaurants moved to a take out or delivery only model, demand surged for foam cups, plates and the like leaving shortages and not a lot of folks to run the machines that create more forcing restaurants to get creative.

The ice storm that hit the Gulf Coast has affected the Propylene Oxide plants in Texas and Louisiana. Propylene Oxide is an intermediate in the production of polyether polyols for polyurethane foams. Polypropylene Oxide requires the cooperation of multiple industries resulting in a worldwide shortage.

In the case of polystyrene, tiny amounts of styrene may remain following manufacture and it's this substance that may migrate. In 2014, the National Research Council in the US reviewed the evidence and concluded that styrene is “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen”.

How long will a Styrofoam cup last?

Polystyrene is the material of choice for packaging because it's nice and light. It's easy to snap in half or crumble but, crucially, it's strong in compression and therefore protects delicate objects if dropped or crushed. Polystyrene is also a very good insulator, meaning that it quickly accrues electrical charge.

But if the city bans Styrofoam containers, he won't have a problem with the decision and will probably convert to clear plastic containers even though "the price (of the plastic) compared to (foam) is almost three times more expensive."

Polystyrene cups can leach harmful chemicals, like benzene, especially when they're microwaved, and animals sometimes mistake them for food and consume them. Paper cups — including polyethylene-coated ones — aren't toxic, even when microwaved or eaten accidentally.

One of the main concerns regarding EPS foam is that it's not biodegradable and therefore takes up a lot of space in landfills, which adds to the pollution problem. If littered, EPS foam sometimes breaks into smaller pieces that are more difficult to clean up.

Speaking of cost, the typical paper cup costs around two-and-a-half times the amount of a Styrofoam cup. Aside from the production of the cup, if you add the cardboard sleeve and its production, raw material, energy and shipping needs, you need to throw in an additional 2-3 cents per cup.

Polystyrene is slow to degrade, and if disposed of improperly, the foam can leach chemicals into the environment harming water sources. Polystyrene manufacturing is an enormous creator of hazardous waste. Furthermore, polystyrene manufacturing greatly contributes to global warming.

Styrofoam insulates much more effectively than plastic, which means your cold drinks stay colder longer and your hot drinks stay hotter. Plastic cups are not recommended for hot drinks, and they do not have the insulation properties of Styrofoam.

It stopped using foam packaging for hot beverages in 2012 after receiving pressure from As You Sow, a nonprofit that promotes environmental and social corporate responsibility. The only remaining foam used in McDonald's stores today is for cold beverages.

Styrofoam is banned in Colorado, Maine, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Washington, D.C. New Jersey's was the most recent to be implemented, as its ban took effect on May 4, 2022.

Are Styrofoam cups legal?

Additionally, several states have been impacted at a city level by legislation banning Styrofoam, including California, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas, Washington, and Washington, D.C. In Washington, D.C., the use of foam products in the foodservice industry has been ...

How Many Foam Coffee Cups are Produced Every Year? Polystyrene has been around since the 1930s and first made its way into coffee cups around the 1960s, quickly soaring in popularity and usage.

Foam board insulation products are generally considered water and mold resistant but expanded polystyrene foam boards (EPS) have air bubbles that can collect moisture and become wet. Moisture makes it hard to prevent mold from growing, making the foam board also prone to mildew growth.

Simply look for the genuine Styrofoam^™ Brand trademark! DuPont holds more than 150 trademark registrations worldwide for the Styrofoam^™ Brand.

Prepping is the only way to protect yourself from shortages in 2022, as well as preparing for inflation. With products already in short supply, January is the time to start stocking up before the shelves are empty.