About
The eco-clamshell is a reusable to-go container available for sale at Owens dining hall. It is part of a campus sustainability initiative, and can be used in place of a styrofoam box. To buy one, ask your cashier at Owens and they'll usually be able to pull one out from under the register for you (it costs $7.00 cash or $3.50 dining dollars). You can also buy a reusable bottle for soft drinks.Why you should get one
The eco-clamshell is very convenient! By eliminating use of styrofoam to-go boxes, you will find that you have to empty your trash much less often.The eco-clamshell eliminates the need for wasteful styrofoam and helps protect our planet! Styrofoam is a petroleum product, it is unsustainable, and it does not biodegrade. These things will still be blowing around when your grandkids are attending Hokie football games!
In addition to styrofoam boxes, the eco-clamshell can sometimes be used in order to avoid food pre-packaged in plastic disposable clamshells. Plastics like this end up polluting our land and oceans and coating our Earth in a layer of plastic particles.
The eco-clamshell is BPA free.
Health effects of styrofoam:
Equally (perhaps more) important are the potential negative health effects of eating out of styrofoam. Styrofoam boxes are formed from expanded #6 plastic polystyrene, and they contain the dangerous chemicals benzene and styrene.Acute exposure to styrene results in gastrointestinal and respiratory effects, such as mucous membrane irritation and eye irritation (1). Chronic long term exposure has been shown to produce effects on the central nervous system, including CNS disfunction, hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy, fatigue, weakness, and depression (1). Styrene may also be linked to an increased risk of leukemia and lymphoma (1). According to the ATSDR (part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), "Small amounts of styrene can be transferred to food from styrene-based packaging material," (2).
Benzene is a known carcinogen that we are persistently exposed to through the air, and to a lesser extent, through food and water (3).
Check out my references:
1. EPA report on styrene (admittedly, this report focuses on exposure through inhalation)
2. Report on styrene from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
3. Report on benzene from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Guide to use:
- Buy your eco-clamshell, take it home and wash it.
- Next time you go to the dining hall, consider wether you will be eating there or getting food to-go. Take along your clamshell if you'll be getting food to-go (you might also want to take along your conventional silverware if you won't be eating in your room).
- When you order, ask for your food "for here" so that they give it to you on a washable ceramic/plastic plate.
- Pay for your food.
- Find a knife or fork, go over to a table/counter, open up your clamshell and push your food from the plate into the clamshell.
- Take your now-dirty plate over to the plate return and put it on the conveyer belt.
- Enjoy your food and be happy that you're not destroying the Earth!
- When you're done eating, wash your eco-clamshell thoroughly!
Tips:
- The eco-clamshell does take some getting used to, so be patient!
- When carrying food, remember to hold the box level because it doesn't seal around the edges.
- If you need to transport your food a long distance before consumption, you might want to consider making/buying an insulated sleeve for the eco-clamshell, as it does not retain heat very well.
- Washing in a tiny dorm sink can be a little awkward, but it is definitely do-able! Just remember not to wash vast quantities of food residue down your drain, or it will get stopped up. The best strategy with the eco-clamshell is to only order what you know you will eat so that you won't have any left overs to throw away. If you do this, you will find you have to empty your trash much less often!
