Boston, February 26, 2026 – After negotiating with Green Century, US Foods, one of the largest food service distributors in the United States, will provide more information on the sustainability of the disposable products, including the food packaging that it sells to restaurants and food service operators.
“Investors need this information to understand how US Foods is adapting to changing preferences for more sustainable packaging and less plastic,” said Leslie Samuelrich, president of Green Century. “Consumers don’t want their coffee cup or takeout container to pollute the environment for thousands of years.”
Specifically, US Foods will disclose roughly what share of its disposable sales are polystyrene, commonly known as Styrofoam, and how the company is responding to changing consumer preferences to avoid the material. The company will also disclose information on the share of disposable sales that are designed to be more sustainable.
Scientists estimate that polystyrene will last for thousands of years
Polystyrene is a cheap and convenient plastic used in food packaging and other products, but scientists estimate that it will last in the environment for thousands of years. It breaks into tiny pieces that wildlife often ingest because they mistake it for food.
The toxic chemicals used to make these plastics can end up in human bodies, too, sometimes leaching from packaging into food or drink. In people, polystyrene has been linked to cancer, vision and hearing loss, poor memory and concentration, and an impaired nervous system. Because of its threat to nature and human health, many consumers avoid it. In addition, several U.S. states and cities have banned it and legislation proposing a federal ban has been introduced in Congress.
“We encourage US Foods to stop selling polystyrene completely,” said Frances Fairhead-Stanova, shareholder advocate at Green Century. “In the meantime, we — and US Foods’ other shareholders and customers — appreciate the extra disclosure. We look forward to learning more about how US Foods is working to provide better packaging alternatives for consumers and the planet.”
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