Egg Cartons (Foam) Put in Garbage Cart/Bin Foam Cartons Are Plastic #6 Foam egg cartons are made from polystyrene, or plastic #6. Learn more about plastic #6. Did You Know? Paperboard Cartons Are More Eco-Friendly Than Foam Ones As you grocery shop, think about where your food packaging will end up. Eggs often come in paper or foam casing. Did you know that paperboard packaging is the more eco-friendly option? It’s recyclable and biodegradable. Foam is less so because it’s made from polystyrene, or plastic #6, which is a petroleum product and often not recycled. Even if paperboard ends up in a landfill, it will break down and leave no harmful traces. Designing a More Eco-Friendly Egg Carton One Hungarian graduate student designed an egg carton made from far less material. It is a design change that could have a huge environmental impact because it cuts down on every household’s waste. Her finished product is a single piece of cardboard that flips open and shut. View this egg carton design.