Documentary

Polystyrene Foam: From War to Waste

Music

Miller, Glenn and His Orchestra. “In the Mood.” YouTube video, posted July 17, 2014.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CI-0E_jses

Postmodern Jukebox. “Creep (Vintage Postmodern Jukebox Cover) — Haley Reinhart.” YouTube video, posted October 18, 2014.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3lF2qEA2cw

Photos

Altamax. “Packaging Foam: A Military Essential.” Accessed December 1, 2025.
https://www.altamax.net/packaging-foam-a-military-essential.

American Chemistry Council. Polystyrene and Additives: Challenges in Recycling. Washington, D.C.

BASF Corporation. History of Polystyrene Production. BASF North America Archives.

Beyond Plastics. “Polystyrene Fact Sheet.” Accessed December 1, 2025.
https://www.beyondplastics.org/fact-sheets/polystyrene.

CyberLink Corp. “PowerDirector 365 Logo.” Accessed December 1, 2025.
https://www.cyberlink.com/products/powerdirector-video-editing-software.

Dart Container Corporation. History of the Foam Cup. Mason, MI.

Dow Chemical Company. Applications of STYROFOAM™ During World War II. Dow Technical Bulletin.
History of STYROFOAM™. Dow Corporate Archives, Midland, MI.
Styrofoam™ Brand FAQ: Misuse of the Name. Dow Corporate Communications.

EatHealthy365. “Styrofoam Recycling, Reuse & Disposal: The Final Answer.” Accessed December 1, 2025.
https://eathealthy365.com/styrofoam-recycling-reuse-disposal-the-final-answer/.
“The Complete History of Styrofoam: From Lab to Landfill.” Accessed December 1, 2025.
https://eathealthy365.com/styrofoam-recycling-reuse-disposal-the-final-answer/.

EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: Facts and Figures. 2023.
Microplastics in Soil and Water: Emerging Concerns. Office of Research & Development.
Packing and Cushioning Materials: Properties and Uses. Office of Resource Conservation.
Plastics: Materials, Waste, and Environmental Impact.
Stormwater and Litter Transport Pathways.

FDA (Food and Drug Administration). Food Contact Substances: Polystyrene Migration Considerations.

Global Seafood Alliance. “Expanded Polystyrene and Marine Debris.” Accessed December 1, 2025.
https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/expanded-polystyrene-1536×1152.jpg.

Grand View Research. “Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Market Report.” Accessed December 1, 2025.
https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/extruded-polystyrene-xps-market-report.

Guo, Hui, and Jong-Whan Rhim. Processing of Polymer Nanocomposites. In Processing of Polymer-Based Nanocomposites, edited by Vikas Mittal. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2018.
Figure 7.2. https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/3-s2.0-B9780128145487000076-f07-02-9780128145487.jpg.

Holman, Todd. Astronauts Conducting Microsphere Experiment with Polystyrene. Created using OpenAI ChatGPT Image Generator (DALL·E 3), 2025.
College Student Interview Scene with Will and James (Documentary Recreation). Created using OpenAI ChatGPT Image Generator, 2025.
Early Discovery and Invention of Foam Polystyrene — Laboratory Scene Recreation. Created using OpenAI ChatGPT Image Generator, 2025.
Environmental Impact Illustration Showing Styrofoam Fragmentation. Created using OpenAI ChatGPT Image Generator, 2025.
Experiment with Styrofoam Conducted by Will, James, and Todd (Reenacted Scene). Created using OpenAI ChatGPT Image Generator, 2025.
Factory Production Lines Producing Styrofoam — AI Reconstruction. Created using OpenAI ChatGPT Image Generator, 2025.
Foam Polystyrene Chemistry Discovery — WWII Era Representation. Created using OpenAI ChatGPT Image Generator, 2025.
James Holding Boom Mic While Todd Films and Will Interviews — Documentary Setup Scene. Created using OpenAI ChatGPT Image Generator, 2025.
Narrative Styrofoam Marine Pollution Visualization. Created using OpenAI ChatGPT Image Generator, 2025.
NASA Zero-Gravity Microsphere Experiment — AI Recreation. Created using OpenAI ChatGPT Image Generator, 2025.
Polystyrene Microplastics Breakdown Graphic. Created using OpenAI ChatGPT Image Generator, 2025.
Protesters Demonstrating Against Styrofoam. Created using OpenAI ChatGPT Image Generator, 2025.
Scene Depicting Styrofoam Laws Being Passed. Created using OpenAI ChatGPT Image Generator, 2025.
Styrofoam in the 1950s — Postwar Consumer Boom Scene. Created using OpenAI ChatGPT Image Generator, 2025.
Styrofoam Ocean Pollution Visualization. Created using OpenAI ChatGPT Image Generator, 2025.
WWII Normandy Invasion — Styrofoam Supply Recreation. Created using OpenAI ChatGPT Image Generator, 2025.
WWII Pacific Theater Supply Scene — Styrofoam Logistics Illustration. Created using OpenAI ChatGPT Image Generator, 2025.
War-Era Industrial Polystyrene Factory Reconstruction. Created using OpenAI ChatGPT Image Generator, 2025.
Will, James, and Todd Conducting a Styrofoam Experiment — Lab Reconstruction. Created using OpenAI ChatGPT Image Generator, 2025.

Intco Recycling. “Styrofoam Recycling Process.” Accessed December 1, 2025.
https://www.intcorecycling.com/pics/Styrofoam%20recycling111.png.
“Take-Out Foam Containers: Recycling Can Prevent the Use Ban.” Accessed December 1, 2025.
https://www.intcorecycling.com/take-out-foam-containers-recycling-can-prevent-the-use-ban.html.

IPC Pack. “Insulated Packaging Types Comparison.” Accessed December 1, 2025.
https://ipcpack.com/insulated-packaging-types-comparison.

Munters Corporation. Photograph of Carl Munters and Colleague. Accessed December 1, 2025.
https://www.munters.com/globalassets/digizuite/12983-en-carlbalthazar-32-standard-photo.webp.

National Inventors Hall of Fame. Photograph of Otis Ray McIntire. Accessed December 1, 2025.
https://www.invent.org/sites/default/files/styles/inductee_media/public/inductees/383-master_1.jpg.

NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health). Styrene: Occupational Exposure Guidelines. CDC.

NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Buoyancy and Transport Characteristics of Plastics in Marine Environments.
Impacts of Marine Debris on Wildlife.
Marine Debris: Transport and Fate.
Rivers as Pathways for Marine Debris.

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Regenyx Chemical Recycling Closure Summary. 2024.

OpenAI. “ChatGPT Logo.” Accessed December 1, 2025.
https://openai.com/chatgpt.

Packaging Guruji. “Alternatives to Styrofoam.” Accessed December 1, 2025.
https://packagingguruji.com/alternatives-to-styrofoam/.

Plastics Industry Association. Polystyrene Applications and Market Overview. Washington, D.C.

Science History Institute. Hermann Staudinger and the Birth of Polymer Science.
Man Transporting Log. Accessed December 1, 2025.
https://digital.sciencehistory.org/works/cz30pt222.
Promotional Display for Dow Styrofoam Insulation. Accessed December 1, 2025.
https://digital.sciencehistory.org/works/3j333332b.
The Cultural Life of Polystyrene: 1950–1980.

Sterling Building Materials. “Dow Styrofoam HL40 Insulation.” Accessed December 1, 2025.
https://sterlingbm.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Dow-Styrofoam-HL40-2.jpg.

Universal Foam Products. “History of EPS Foam.” Accessed December 1, 2025.
https://univfoam.com/learning-center/eps-history/.

University of Mary Washington, Digital Knowledge Center. “DKC Logo.” Accessed December 1, 2025.
https://dkc.umw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/DKC-Logo-Pan-1080.gif.

Video Clips

NTCO Recycling. “POLYSTYRENE FOAM RECYCLING | Global Recycling Day.” YouTube video, posted March 18, 2021.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7fVDnc4mkE

Make Things Easier. “What is Styrofoam? What Happens When You Microwave It? How Does It Work?” YouTube video, posted February 6, 2023.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b8MrasZUts