Paper Cup vs. Styrofoam Cup: Which is the “Greener” Choice?

1. MrPumpernickel
   February 25th, 2008 at 5:04 am

   Why is biodegration even an issue? Surely one should be thinking recycling instead of biodegration?

   Though, there are innovative styrofoam materials that are biodegradable as well, they’re making their way into packaging materials quite strongly. However, I don’t know if they’re strong enough for hot liquids.

2. Willo the Wisp
   February 25th, 2008 at 6:09 am

   Styrofoam does not biodegrade at all. It degrades into smaller and smaller pieces over time, like rocks turning into sand, and finds its way into the food chain, where it begins to poison animals that eat it in error. There exists no bacterium currently capable of metabolising styrofoam or plastics, and it may be hundreds of thousands of years before one evolves. By which time, the planet will be choked with plastic and styrofoam.

   Beware of plastics that advertise themselves as degradable. There are various kinds of bin liners, sandwich bags and freezer bags on the market and indeed they are just that. Merely degradable. All that means is that they break down into smaller pieces of plastic quicker than regular plastic, meaning that they poison smaller creatures more quickly than non-degradable plastics do. And when the plankton dies, we’re all screwed.

3. Tyler
   February 25th, 2008 at 8:28 am

   I thought this was common knowledge. Not only is styrofoam cheaper and greener to make, it works better too.

   No need for that extra paper sleeve on your cup when using styrofoam.

   Give me the better insulated, greener, cheaper choice any day.

4. sparge
   February 25th, 2008 at 9:25 am

   Or bring your own cup. But that would require actual responsibility.

   and Willo - many of the products you mention are listed as degradable because they are water-soluble, meaning that they break down into individual polymer molecules, which, although they are much larger than, say, a water molecule, are still much too small to be mistaken for food. They are often made from starchy, plant-based polymers instead of petroleum-based polymers. Also, plastic-eating bacteria may be closer than you think:
   http://ec.europa.eu/environment/etap/pdfs/oct06_plastic_degradation.pd f

5. L
   February 25th, 2008 at 12:40 pm

   So a paper cup takes longer than is usually thought to biodegrade? So what? It’s still less time than it takes a styrofoam cup to break down.

   I guess it depends on what kind of world we want: one with more paper waste (which is from a renewable resource and can be recycled if we’re not too lazy about it) or more styrofoam waste (which is unsightly at best, toxic at worst). If people used the sturdier styrofoam cups more than once, you’d have a different argument. But since they usually go straight to the landfill, that’s another story.

6. Skipweasel
   February 25th, 2008 at 1:33 pm

   Paper yoghurt pots, which I assumed are very similar to paper coffee cups, break down within two years in our compost heap.

   I crumple them up and throw them in along with the labels off tins, the cardboard slips on food packets, coffee grounds, mango stones, all uneaten food and peelings etc. Even meat, which you’re not supposed to put on heaps works fine in the tiny quantities we ever leave.

   What comes out of the bottom has no recognisable trace of paper cup.

7. SW
   February 25th, 2008 at 3:01 pm

   always check the source of these studies. i’m not taking the time to on this one, but i have researched this dillema before and the vast majority of data was coming from the styro companies, not 3rd parties.

8. Alex
   February 25th, 2008 at 3:02 pm

   So a paper cup takes longer than is usually thought to biodegrade? So what? It’s still less time than it takes a styrofoam cup to break down.

   I think the point is paper practically don’t degrade in most landfill environment. A paper cup will still be a paper cup after buried in a landfill for decades… then what’s the point of it being biodegradable at all?

   The point of the Eco Joe article is that you have to consider the total impact of paper cup vs. styrofoam cup (from production energy cost to quantity used to finally, biodegradability).

9. bun
   February 25th, 2008 at 3:07 pm

   Plastic is forever. Literally.

10. ted
    February 25th, 2008 at 7:58 pm

    True, Alex. Garbage is packed so densely in landfills, there’s no opportunity for any of it to biodegrade. The compost box is a different story because there’s air in it.

11. Skipweasel
    February 26th, 2008 at 5:34 pm

    That’s why I compost! What goes to the landfill is almost exclusively plastic, and I try to choose things that don’t have too much of that.

12. Lucy
    March 19th, 2008 at 6:41 pm

    I am trying to make our company lunchroom “Go Green” We currently supply employees with Paper Plates, Styrofoam cups, and plastic utensils. I was looking for information to convince the staff that this change is better for all, yet I can’t seem to find good information. Any direction would be appreciated like a link to a specific site!!

13. Jamie
    March 30th, 2008 at 10:38 pm

    I would stick with the foam. You can recycle it. Biodegrading just adds Green House gases. Get smart on the facts.

14. Bill Lumburg
    May 8th, 2008 at 2:39 am

    What exactly does that paper biodegrade into? Greenhouse gasses, Methane and Carbon Dioxide.

15. jeff ncihols
    May 8th, 2008 at 4:56 pm

    (styro vs paper question) I have it from good sources that paper products that have been treated to be water and oil resistant are the more evil of the two, because when the treated paper product decomposes, it will impart dangerous toxins into the soil; whereas polystyrene is just ugly.

16. Mrs. Ward
    May 26th, 2008 at 8:23 pm

    Which is better for the environment use Paper or Polystyrene Products?

    Obviously garbage is garbage - regardless if it’s biodegradable/recyclable - or neither - it’s all garbage and it’s a problem and bad for the environment whether it seeps into our earth or just sits there and takes up space… it’s bad either way.

    So the next big thing to consider and look at (that should be just as a big priority)… is to decide which is healtheir for people?

    Obviously, it has been proven and banned in some states to use… “styrofoam”/polyestrene products have harmful chemicals that seep into your liquids/foods regarding hot and cold items versus using paper isn’t as harmful and doesn’t mess with your thyroid or cause you more of a risk for cancer.

    Do people want to be cheap and worry about the environment? Or do you care about your health?

17. Nate
    July 9th, 2008 at 10:14 pm

    Yeah, I just bring a thermos.

    *receives awkward stares*

18. haha
    October 30th, 2008 at 4:28 pm

    plastic is made with oil

19. Rick
    December 12th, 2008 at 3:58 am

    paper cups use more energy to be produced, leave more sludge (eventually waste) when recycled, and release methane when decomposing. i’m not going to argue which is better because if you know the facts, they’re equally bad. the facts are the facts, and the debate will continue over which is greener

20. Denise D'Anne
    January 13th, 2009 at 5:31 pm

    Why are we not talking about personal responsibility, like bringing your own food container, cups, and silverware. There are plenty of choices out there from durable plastic covered food containers to stainless steel, many variety of reusable cups and take some silverware from your kitchen.

21. scottttttttttt
    February 9th, 2009 at 6:00 am

    hey you guyssss

22. scottttttttttt
    February 9th, 2009 at 6:06 am

    To be honest, I believe that polystyrene cups are more cost effective than their paper bretheren, what do you guyssss think?

23. scottttttt
    February 9th, 2009 at 7:44 am

    I like eating chips in polystryrene cups.

24. Think Green Displays
    February 10th, 2009 at 11:42 pm

    Wow that’s a pretty cool fact, it is true that not everything is what it appears to be especially when it comes to trying to be green.

25. scottttttt
    February 12th, 2009 at 4:23 am

    Shut your mouth.

26. scotttttttt
    March 19th, 2009 at 4:20 am

    I’m selling lubricant for £3.50 a tube, first ones free.
    p33d0

27. Scott Fish
    April 2nd, 2009 at 3:53 am

    I LOOOOOOVE CAKE, COOKIES, CREAM, CHOCOLATE, BURGERS, CHIPS, COOKING OIL, PIZZAS, KFC, BURGER KING, MCDOANLDS, LEMON PARTY.

28. Imnot
    April 8th, 2009 at 10:02 am

    Seriously, cutting down trees is a good thing?

    Manufacturing paper products produces uses 2.5 to 7 times more energy than plastics, paper mills are historically some of the worst producers of toxic waste (look up Pigeon River and http://www.cwac.net/paper_industry/). It’s even worse if you look at the respective recycling processes.

    Biodegradable does not mean disappear. It means that the material breaks down. Into what? The biodegrading of paper in a landfill releases one of the worst greenhouse gases, Methane. Paper is not as clean as you think.

    The solution is not which, but not to let it get to the landfill (or ocean) in the first place and recycle.

29. shirley
    May 19th, 2009 at 8:20 pm

    hi well i am doing a rip for my grade project now can you compare styrofoam plate and paper plate because i really need to pass sience pls??

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