For well over a decade, Surfrider has fought to stop plastic pollution and we have many policy victories to show for it. Beyond advocating for policies to regulate and ban certain single-use foodware like polystyrene, Surfrider's Ocean Friendly Programs play a critical role in supporting businesses. Our ability to seamlessly integrate both our programmatic and policy work is what we call our “secret sauce.” In regions like Oregon where comprehensive policies fall short, our programmatic approaches are an essential ingredient of Surfrider's plastic pollution strategy.
Oregon Senator Janeen Sollman holds a polystyrene take out container prior to her committee's passage of a bill to ban them from use in Oregon. Senator Sollman has been a key leader sponsoring and supporting policy to curb plastic pollution in Oregon.
What’s Happening in Oregon
In Oregon, Surfrider and partners advocated for a statewide ban on polystyrene foodware through legislative action in 2023 (SB 543). Supporters and bill sponsors had earlier introduced a more comprehensive policy that would have regulated other types of single-use foodware. Instead, the bill that passed directed a state “Alternative Foodware Working Group” to develop guidance and recommendations for alternatives to polystyrene foodware. Led by Senator Janeen Sollman, the group was comprised of stakeholders representing the restaurant industry, state agencies, waste management experts, and environmental advocates - Surfrider’s Oregon policy staff and national Ocean Friendly Program staff also participated.
7 Devils Brewing Co. is an Ocean Friendly Restaurant in Coos Bay Oregon.
Surfrider’s Policy and Program Approach
Surfrider favors policy approaches that go “beyond the ban”, addressing single-use plastic foodware more comprehensively in order to help avoid unintended consequences from the shift from one type of single-use product to another. As such we’ve developed a myriad of policy resources around addressing single-use plastic foodware policy comprehensively and important considerations around alternatives like bioplastics.
But, Surfrider also understands that good policy is preceded by engaging the public and especially the impacted community of businesses. Thus beyond policy, Surfrider helps restaurants reduce their single-use plastic footprint by offering a straightforward framework, discount codes, and resources to help them reduce plastic waste and make more sustainable purchasing decisions. Community and business engagement through our Ocean Friendly Restaurants Program is a key cornerstone for advancing policy and moving the needle on plastic pollution.
Reusable mugs and silverware at a cafe.
Reuse Wins in Oregon
Ultimately, the Oregon Foodware Working Group found that policy guidance for alternative single-use products was complex - when it comes to replacing polystyrene foodware with another single-use alternative, factors such as material management, life cycle impacts, and limitations within the product supply chain come into play. While some favored certain non-plastic single-use alternatives such as paper and hay, most felt that any single-use option was tough to recommend for Oregon policy. Beyond the limitations of policy, the working group would need to focus on programmatic recommendations for reuse and plastic reduction in Oregon - a strategy well-informed by Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly programs!
One thing everyone could agree on is that reuse wins. Reusable food serviceware, when adequately reused, is better than single-use alternatives in almost every environmental measure, including climate, water, waste, and pollution.
Senator Sollman and advocates (including Charlie Plybon second person from the left) following the policy passage at the Capitol.
Oregon’s Alternative Foodware Working Group Recommendations
The group created 3 documents aimed at educating stakeholders about the policies in place and the alternative foodware options and programmatic approaches available to Oregon businesses to reduce single-use foodware.
- The Recent Foodware Legislation document provides an overview of legislation over the last six years that would be of particular interest to restaurant and food providers.
- The Polystyrene and Food Containers with PFAS Prohibition Fact Sheet provides a high-level overview of Senate Bill 543, 2024.
- The Oregon Food Serviceware Guide provides additional insight into alternative products.
In the Oregon Food Serviceware Guide, reuse is described as the best option. The guide provides concrete examples of how restaurants can implement reusables into their daily operations. Where reuse just is not yet feasible for a business, we recommended stakeholders to prioritize food serviceware that is nontoxic, and that can break down more easily in the environment than plastics or bioplastics.
Surfrider’s combined policy and programmatic strategy make us uniquely positioned to tackle single-use plastic pollution. This scenario in Oregon is just one example of how we engage on every level of solutions nationally, from our grassroots cleanups, and supporting businesses with our programs to advancing statewide and federal policies and even tipping the legal scales to hold producers accountable, Surfrider is making meaningful and lasting changes to eliminate plastic pollution at the source.