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REPSA - Life Cycle Analysis of Expanded Polystyrene

The eleven manufacturers and five raw material suppliers that make up REPSA are signatories to the Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Industry Group Action Plan. This is an agreement between government and industries involved in producing, using and disposing of EPS boxes.

It is based on shared environmental responsibility for all aspects of the life-cycle of EPS boxes - from raw material suppliers to retailers and final disposal.

The Plan includes action to improve the efficiency and sustainability of kerbside recycling operations around Australia. EPS for recycling is compressed to remove the air and then melted and converted to a general-purpose polystyrene (GPPS). This is used to manufacture a variety of products, including videocassettes, coat hangers and synthetic timber. EPS products can also be granulated and incorporated into other products such as lightweight concrete and waffle pods used extensively in the building trade.

Life-cycle analysis confirms that the environmental impact of EPS boxes is less than other products performing the same task:

• EPS generates less greenhouse emissions over its life-cycle than other packaging materials.
  
• EPS is CFC free and is produced from a by-product of the petroleum industry;
  
• EPS is 98% air - so it weighs less, requires less energy to produce and requires less energy for transportation.
  
• EPA also has superior insulation properties, so it can keep products fresh at the correct temperature for longer and is also moisture resistant and shock resistant.

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