Our Community at a Crossroads

Western North Carolina is defined by its natural beauty, but our local ecosystems face a growing threat. Polystyrene, commonly known as Styrofoam, is a persistent pollutant that never fully biodegrades. Instead, it breaks down into microplastics that infiltrate our waterways and soil. As local demand for takeout and packaged goods remains high, the volume of single use waste entering our environment continues to escalate.

The Current Challenge

Data shows that while many local business owners want to transition to sustainable alternatives, the initial costs and supply chain hurdles remain significant barriers. Currently, millions of polystyrene containers are used across our region annually. Without a coordinated effort to provide affordable, eco-friendly alternatives, this material will continue to accumulate in our landfills and rivers for centuries.

Our Vision for Western North Carolina

Foam Free WNC is launching this initiative to provide the resources and infrastructure necessary for a regional transition to sustainable packaging. Our project scope includes:

Procurement Program: Assisting local restaurants in easing the transition to eco-friendly food service products.
Technical Assistance: Providing one on one consultations to help local restaurants audit their waste streams.
Regional Education: Launching a public awareness campaign to help consumers identify and support foam free establishments.

Your Professional Investment

Your contribution ensures that our local economy remains resilient while protecting our natural resources. Every dollar invested in this campaign facilitates the removal of thousands of pieces of polystyrene from our waste stream. For example, a gift of $250 helps transition one local cafe to 100% compostable materials for an entire month. When you give, you are directly funding the research and distribution required to make sustainable options the standard across the region.

We invite you to join us in this investment to secure a cleaner, more sustainable future for Western North Carolina.

Fund Eco-Friendly Packaging for WNC Restaurants

Moving our mountains toward a future without single use food service foam