Phase-out of polystyrene foam

In the late 20th and early 21st century, there has been a global movement towards the phase-out of polystyrene foam as a single use plastic (SUP). Early bans of polystyrene foam intended to eliminate ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), formerly a major component.
Expanded polystyrene, often termed Styrofoam, is a contributor of microplastics from both land and maritime activities. Polystyrene is not biodegradeable but is susceptible to photo-oxidation, and degrades slowly in the ocean as microplastic marine debris. Animals do not recognize polystyrene foam as an artificial material, may mistake it for food, and show toxic effects after substantial exposure.
Full or partial bans of expanded and polystyrene foam commonly target disposable food packaging. Such bans have been enacted through national legislation globally, and also at sub-national or local levels in many countries.
China banned expanded polystyrene takeout/takeaway containers and tableware in 1999, but later revoked the policy in 2013 amidst industry lobbying. Haiti banned foam food containers in 2012 to reduce waste in canals and roadside drains. In 2019, the European Parliament voted 560 to 35 to ban all food and beverage containers made from expanded polystyrene throughout the European Union member states. Canada amended its 'Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999' in 2022 to prohibit foodservice ware made of expanded or extruded polystyrene, and also polyvinyl chloride, black colored plastics, or oxo-degraded plastics.
In Australia, over 97% of the population live in an area that bans expanded polystyrene. Between 2021-2023, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, and Western Australia enacted bans.
Nigeria's states of Lagos and Abia introduced bans in January 2024, with an initial transition period of three weeks. The state of Oyo introduced a ban in March 2024.
Municipal bans in the Philippines are in effect in Bailen, Boracay, Caloocan, Cordova, El Nido, Las Piñas, Makati, Mandaluyong City, Muntinlupa, Quezon City, and Tacloban.
In the United Arab Emirates, the municipal government of Dubai announced a ban affecting polystyrene in 2025, and all single-use plastic food containers in 2026.
As of February 2025, 11 U.S. states and two territories have passed statewide legislation to explicitly ban polystyrene foam:
In Hawaii, a de facto ban is in effect after every county enacted polystyrene bans except state-administered Kalawao County. Bans in Hawaii County took effect July 2019, followed by Kauai County, Maui County, and Honolulu County in 2022. Maui separately banned polystyrene foam coolers, and the sale or rental of disposable bodyboards in 2022.
In California, polystyrene is de jure banned as of January 2025, resulting from the state's legislature passing SB54 in June 2022 as the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act. The law codifies extended producer responsibility (EPR) requirements for plastics, including a requirement that polystyrene be banned if recycling rates do not reach 25% by 2025. Recycling rates averaged 6% at passage, leading some to call the law a 'de facto ban', anticipating an inability to comply. As of February 2025, CalRecycle, the state agency regulating SB 54, had not announced enforcement mechanisms to begin implementation of the law.
Local bans have been enacted elsewhere, including in many large and small cities within the US:
As of February 2025, proposed legislation banning polystyrene has previously passed at least one legislative chamber in two states and one territory.
In Connecticut, SB 118 passed the state Senate in April 2022, but died when the session ended. In Illinois, the state House passed HB2376 on March 21, 2023, which also died when the session ended. The territory of the Northern Mariana Islands passed HB21-89 in its House of Representatives in 2020.
In September 2021, Florida introduced a proposed phaseout of polystyrene foam food packaging. Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried, whose Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services oversees food safety in Florida, proposed a rule to phase out polystyrene in 40,000 grocery stores, food markets, convenience stores, and gas stations that the agency regulates in Florida. The Florida Legislature will consider the proposed rule in 2022.