Georgia-Pacific, part of Koch Industries, owns iconic household consumer brands like AngelSoft® toilet paper, Brawny® paper towels and Dixie® cups. When first introduced in 1910, the disposable Dixie® cup was a novel invention that took off during the Spanish flu of 1918. A hundred years later and disposable products like plates, cups and cutlery remain popular for their convenience and hygienic benefits.  

Of the materials used in disposable products, polystyrene foam (PS) foam provides the best balance of affordability and performance. At only $.02 to $.03 per plate, foam costs less and outperforms alternatives across several key attributes, including: 

• Soak proof 

• Wet/dry strength 

• Strong for weight 

However, foam receives low marks in a third, critical area - sustainability. In response, states and municipalities are increasingly banning its use in single-use products in favor of compostable and/or biodegradable materials. There is currently no sustainable foam alternative that offers the same performance benefits (i.e. heat resistant and does not lose strength when wet) at such a low cost. The closest alternatives on the market perform poorly or cost two to three times per plate: 

• Uncoated paper plates: Low cost but very poor performance 

• Coated paper plates: Strong performance but higher cost 

• Compostable plastic (i.e. PLA or PHA) coated plates: Strong performance but very high cost