End the Use of Expanded Polystyrene at the Stanford University Campus Branch of the Jamba Juice Corporation

As a top academic and research institution, Stanford University strives to lead the way in addressing the crucial global problems of our time, including issues of alternative energy and climate change. In order to be a true role model, however, Stanford needs to start on its own campus. Expanded polystyrene (commonly known as вStyrofoamв) is one of the most conspicuous and directly environmentally detrimental materials that students, faculty, and staff use everyday at several establishments on campus. Although we ultimately hope that the university follows the visionary examples of several campuses and cities (including San Francisco) around the world by banning polystyrene from campus entirely, with this petition we request that the Stanford campus branch of Jamba Juice discontinues its use of polystrene cups and products to package their beverages.

We cite the alarming human and environmental health hazards that polystrene causes, including

1) Acute health effects such as irritation of the skin, eyes, and upper respiratory tract, and gastrointestinal effects. Chronic exposure affects the central nervous system showing symptoms such as depression, headache, fatigue, and weakness, and can cause minor effects on kidney function and blood. Styrene is classified as a possible human carcinogen by the EPA and by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Styrene is used extensively in the manufacture of plastics, rubber, and resins. About 90,000 workers, including those who make boats, tubs and showers, are potentially exposed to styrene.

2) Increased levels of chromosomal damage, abnormal pulmonary function and cancer in workers at polystyrene and styrene plants. After determining the level of exposure to styrene at which workers suffer chromosomal abnormalities, both Germany and Finland established permitted levels of exposure that are much lower than levels permitted in the United States


3) Environmental pollution and negative health effects on land and marine ecosystems. Though polystyrene manufacturers claim that their products are "ozone-friendly" or free of CFCs, this is only partially true. Some polystyrene is now manufactured with HCFC-22, which, though less destructive than its chemical cousins, CFC-11 and CFC-12, is still a greenhouse gas and harmful to the ozone layer. 53 In fact, according to a 1992 study by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, HCFCs are three to five times more destructive to the ozone layer than previously believed.


Many businesses, schools, and cities have moved to ban the use of expanded polystyrene use due to public pressure and environmental concerns. A study by the Portland, Oregon, public school system concluded that switching the school system from polystyrene to reusable polycarbonate foodware would, over a five-year period, save 11 billion BTUs of energy. It would prevent 248,000 pounds of solid waste and 60,000 pounds of airborne emissions (chiefly, pentane, a greenhouse gas and contributor to smog, and sulfur dioxide, and acid rain pollutant).

Over 20 US cities have banned the use of expanded polystyrene in food packaging, including Berkeley, Portland, San Francisco, and Oakland.

Jamba Juice has demonstrated that is has existing alternative serving products such as recyclable plastic and paper-based cups that could be used in the place of polystyrene, and is currently using those products in the aforementioned cities, among others.

We, the students of Stanford University, request that the Stanford campus branch of the Jamba Juice Company ceases to purchase and serve in expanded polystyrene containers, and instead implements containers that are more environmentally sustainable, such as recyclable plastics 1 or 2, or compostable corn or fiber-based materials.