USA – US Senators Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett of Texas have jointly introduced legislation across both chambers aiming to phase out single-use plastic foam food service items, “loose fill” materials such as packing peanuts, and non-medical disposable coolers.
The lawmakers assert that these materials are known to have adverse health effects and significantly pollute waterways.
Named The Farewell to Foam Act, the proposed legislation plans to ban the sale and distribution of these items starting January 2026 while facilitating the transition to alternative products.
Senate cosponsors include Senators Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Angus King of Maine, Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden of Oregon, and Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch of Vermont.
Van Hollen emphasized the persistent environmental impact of single-use plastics, especially foam food containers, stating, “Single-use plastics like foam food containers don’t disappear when you throw them away—they end up choking waterways like the Chesapeake Bay and contaminating our food supply.
“This pollution poses a serious, growing danger to human and environmental health and causes real economic harm to those whose livelihoods depend on our waterways.
“By phasing out foam and encouraging the use of more sustainable packaging, we can tackle a major driver of pollution and improve the health of our communities.”
The lawmakers highlighted expanded polystyrene (EPS), commonly known as plastic foam, as one of the most harmful forms of single-use plastic.
They pointed out that these materials often contain additives, such as flame retardants and colorants, with negative impacts on human health.
Moreover, these materials are challenging to recycle and are prone to break down into microplastics that frequently find their way into the environment.
The legislation aims to follow the success of state and local bans on plastic foam. In 2019, Maryland became the first state to implement such a ban, and a recent study claims a 65% decrease in plastic foam pollution on beaches and waterways in the state. Ten additional states and the District of Columbia have since enacted similar measures.
While the proposed legislation has garnered support from various environmental organizations, critics such as Ross Eisenberg, president of America’s Plastic Makers at the American Chemistry Council, argue that the ban is misguided and may not effectively address plastic pollution.
Eisenberg suggests alternative solutions focused on recycling and leveraging technology to transform recycling infrastructure. However, supporters of the legislation stress the critical need to phase out these polluting materials on a national level to combat the ocean plastics crisis.
For all the latest packaging and printing industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
