polystyrene (thing)

You know it as Styrofoam.

Polystyrene's Versatile Properties Include :

• Insulation
• Cushioning
• It may be compressed tightly to produce "less waste"
• Bouyancy

Its Shortcomings:

• Non-biodegradable properties
• Toxic when incinerated
• CFCs formerly used in manufacturing process aided in the destruction of the ozone layer.
• Polystyrene is designed to be disposed of, therefore it has many single-use applications

Its use in our everyday life is quite common and although it poses a serious environmental problem for our future on this planet, its still in use. Restaurants serve their take-out meals in clamshell packaging and nearly everything shipped in a box is molded in polystyrene. We have become dependent on it without thinking about the further effect it may have on the earth.