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As Ghana intends to ban Styrofoam, a storm is brewing in the country’s packaging economy. 

For thousands of food vendors, the shift to alternative packaging options, such as paper, aluminium, and plantain leaves, raises one pressing question: can Ghana go green without crippling small businesses?

Styrofoam packs, widely used by food vendors in Ghana, may soon face a nationwide ban

Styrofoam, developed in the 1940s by the Dow Chemical Company in the United States, became a global favourite for its cheapness and convenience. 

By the early 2000s, it had taken over Ghana’s food industry as the preferred “take-away pack.”

However, its environmental damage is severe. 

Countries like Rwanda, India, and parts of the U.S. have already banned it, and Ghana is preparing to follow.

For vendors, Styrofoam is a lifeline. 

Selling for as little as one cedi per pack, depending on one's location, it keeps meals affordable while maintaining profits. 

Alternatives like paper and aluminium, popularly called the “Papaye pack”, are costlier.

“My customers don’t like the leaves. They prefer the packs,” said Beatrice Darko, a vendor in Accra.

Another, Beatrice Tagoe, explained: “Per the kind of things I sell, I can’t put them in leaves, and aluminium is too costly.”

A food vendor in Accra demonstrates the common use of Styrofoam packs for take-away meals

The Ghana Living Standards Survey notes that over 80 percent of street vendors operate informally, living hand-to-mouth. 

A rise in packaging costs threatens both their survival and meal affordability for millions of consumers.

Many vendors admit they would switch if alternatives were cheaper. 

However, “One aluminium or paper pack can buy five times the number of Styrofoam packs,” said Doris Koranteng, who worries about losing customers if prices go up.

Aluminium packs, popularly called the “Papaye pack,” are seen as one of the main alternatives to Styrofoam, but at a higher cost

The challenge lies in supply. 

According to the 2025 Packaging Industry Trends Report, over 70 percent of biodegradable food packaging in Ghana is imported. 

Local companies like Eco Pack Ghana struggle with high import duties and limited raw materials. 

“We still rely heavily on foreign countries for production,” said Maxwell Dag, CEO of Eco Pack Ghana.

Paper-based packaging on display: biodegradable options remain more expensive and often imported

Some consumers say they would pay more for safer packaging. 

“No matter the costs, I’m fine. It will be better than buying something cheap and ending up in the hospital,” said Samuel Mensah. 

However, in a price-sensitive market, even a 50-pesewa increase can drive customers away. 

“I prefer the cheap one,” said Bernice Peterson, while Paul Ugochukwu added, “At the end of the day, it is the content, the food we are eating. I’m okay with the take-away pack.”

Traditional plantain leaves, once a common food wrapper, are still used by some but rejected by many consumers as outdated

Economist Dr. Worlanyo Mensah warns that a Styrofoam ban could disrupt small businesses but also create new industries if handled well. 

“We need social engineering… we must plant more trees,” he said. 

Environmentalist Awula Serwaa urges government support for alternative packaging businesses: “Either with tax holidays, funding, grants, or technical know-how,” she noted.

Ghana’s packaging debate now centres on livelihoods, sustainability, and national priorities, with the Styrofoam ban sparking discussions among food vendors and consumers on how to balance environmental protection with economic survival. 

Food vendors and consumers express their views on the Styrofoam ban.