Viewpoint: Small businesses support polystyrene container ban
Small Business Owners
As small business owners from across Montana, we write to express our strong support for the statewide phase-out of polystyrene (Styrofoam) food containers. While we recognize that historically polystyrene food containers offered convenience and low upfront costs, we also understand the lasting harm it causes to our public health, environment, and long-term economic sustainability.
Phasing out polystyrene food containers is not only the right thing to do for the health of our communities and ecosystems—it’s a practical step toward a more responsible and resilient business environment.
Small businesses thrive when governments lead with clarity and integrity. By supporting a statewide phase-out, you would be reinforcing a forward-thinking economy that values healthy citizens, clean communities, and long-term cost savings. We urge you to champion this changeand help build a more sustainable future — one where businesses are empowered to grow without harming the neighbors we call customers or the landscapes we all call home.
We’ve seen firsthand that alternatives to polystyrene food containers are becoming more affordable, accessible, and popular with our customers. Many of us have already made the switch to compostable or recyclable packaging and have benefited from reduced waste disposal costs, improved customer loyalty, and new business opportunities tied to sustainability and circular markets.
As demand for eco-friendly products grows, so too does the availability of competitively priced, high-quality alternatives — some made in Montana, some made from Montana ag byproducts, and with many more Montana made opportunities on the immediate horizon. Proactively supporting a staged, slow transition away from polystyrene food containers demonstrates commitment to protecting consumers while simultaneously protecting businesses.
It provides certainty and time to plan — and those are essentials to small businesses. House Bill 477 does all of the above. Please sign House Bill 477 for a healthier Montana.
With gratitude, the undersigned businesses:
EcoMontana, Butte, MT
Butte Food Cooperative, Butte, MT
ANU Drinkware, Dillon, MT
IND Hemp, Fort Benton
YES Compost, Bozeman, MT
Wild Joe’s Coffee Spot, Bozeman, MT
Paridae Café, Bozeman, MT
Chef Daniel Cox, Big Sky, MT
Treeline Coffee, Bozeman, MT
SustainaBillings, Billings, MT
Mountain Berry Bowls, Bozeman, MT
Bozeman United Methodist Church, Bozeman, MT
Taco del Sol, Butte, MT
Pita Pit, Butte, MT
Happy Trash Can, Livingston, MT
Western Café, Bozeman, MT
Fylgja LLC, Billings, MT
Billings ReFill Shoppe, Billings, MT
Blind Cat Chocolate, Billings, MT
Honor the Earth, Lame Deer, MT
The Sourdough Bagel, Billings, MT
Basal Hospitality, Missoula, MT
Duke’s Café and Bakery, Belgrade, MT
Rosa’s Pizza, Belgrade, MT
Black Dog Yoga, Billings, MT
Casual Space, Billings, MT
Barjon Books, Billings, MT
Spitz, Billings, MT
Prigge & Otten PC CPAs, Butte, MT
Earthbound Café, Billings, MT
Lindsey Munson Art, Billings, MT
Tucker Creek Consulting PLLC, Divide, MT
Billings First Congregational Church, Billings, MT
Sage Woman Healing & Massage, Butte, MT
Blackfoot River Brewing Co, Helena, MT
Delpine Farms LLC, Martinsdale, MT
Central Montana Food Hub, Harlowton, MT
Chance Farms, Bozeman, MT
Food Works, Livingston, MT
Bridger Bowl Ski Area, Bozeman, MT
Jackalopes Provision Food Trailer, Livingston, MT
Legacy Properties, Bozeman, MT
Fauxmages, Bozeman, MT
Mountain Fresh Italian Ice, Bozeman, MT
Old Salt Outpost, Helena, MT
The Union Butcher Shop & Wood Fired Grill, Helena, MT
Red Tractor Pizza, Bozeman, MT
Huckleberry Jamboree, LLC dba Lemondairy, Missoula, MT
Saffron, Butte, MT
Wine Cellar, Butte, MT
The Office Liquor Store and Lounge, Livingston, MT
Homestake Pub, Butte, MT
Uncle Laurie's Catering, West Yellowstone, MT
Montana Roots, Livingston, MT
Bozeman Farmers’ Market, Bozeman, MT
Mountain Time Wellness, Columbia Falls, MT
Fat Robin Orchard & Farm, Polson, MT
Vickie’s Pierogies LLC, Bozeman, MT
A Thousand Leaves, Billings, MT
Vivid Northwest, Billings, MT
Cool Earth Creamery, Missoula, MT
Ladybug’s Cabin, Bigfork, MT
Lisa Jones, Consultant, Whitefish, MT
Missoula Compost, Missoula, MT
Strategy Zero Waste Solutions, Missoula, MT
Abruzzo Italian Kitchen, Whitefish, MT
Gunsight Saloon, Columbia Falls, MT
Dusty Star Saloon, Kalispell, MT
MontPIRG, Bozeman, MT
WYRD Productions, Bozeman, MT