Front Royal Embraces Green Packaging

Taking A Stand Against Styrofoam: A Step Forward For A Sustainable Tomorrow.

Front Royal’s Festival of Leaves wasn’t just a celebration of the changing seasons this year. Thanks to the initiative of the Front Royal-Warren County Anti-Litter Council (ALC), it became a demonstration of how communities can embrace eco-friendly practices in their daily operations.

The ALC, with financial backing from the VA DEQ, introduced an eco-friendly packaging initiative at the festival held on October 14. Their mission? To educate attendees about the dangers of expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam—commonly known as styrofoam—and promote the use of sustainable alternatives. The festival turned into a platform for vendors to experience these alternatives firsthand. The ALC provided food vendors with free “starter kits” containing eco-friendly packaging, ensuring a risk-free trial for businesses. The hope was that vendors would acknowledge the numerous benefits of sustainable packaging and incorporate them in the future.

A stack of eco-friendly packaging is seen here being used by a local food truck. Photos by Justin Proctor

Several downtown businesses, including Garcia & Gavino, are giving the new eco-friendly containers a try! 

Many are unaware of the dangers styrofoam poses. When heated, styrofoam can release harmful carcinogens—a concerning fact given its widespread use for hot beverages and microwaveable food. Moreover, it’s primarily a single-use material, adding significantly to landfill waste. Its non-biodegradable nature allows it to fragment and scatter, polluting landscapes and aquatic ecosystems. In Front Royal, styrofoam remnants are regularly found during Happy Creek cleanups.

Fortunately, today’s market offers various eco-friendly substitutes. Materials like sugarcane, bamboo, and recycled paper offer tree-free paper product solutions. Polylactic Acid (PLA) and Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) provide compostable bioplastic options, while cellophane, derived from sustainable sources like cotton and hemp, also presents a green alternative.

The festival’s sustainable initiative was nothing short of a triumph. A whopping 6,000 clamshells and 4,000 cups, lids, and straws found their way into the hands of eager participants. The distribution was seamless, thanks to the efficient coordination by local RMA students, who worked diligently in the early hours before the festival’s commencement.

The ALC’s Caleb Wilson and Lisa Jenkins take a moment to breathe and strategize amidst distributing the eco-friendly packaging. 

MA students, led by the ALC’s Caleb Wilson, help assemble eco-friendly packaging “starter kits” to be distributed to food vendors. 

The Front Royal-Warren County ALC continues its advocacy for a green shift in business practices. They urge local food and drink establishments to consider the long-term environmental benefits over the marginal cost difference. With prices of sustainable materials on the decline, it’s an investment in a cleaner future for all.