EPS is obtained from oil
EPS ( Expanded Polystyrene Sintered) is a solid material made of carbon, hydrogen and 98% air; it is based on styrene, a substance present even in many foods, coming from oil and
put through a polymerisation process creating polistyrene.Once in contact with hydrocarbon gas the single drops expand to form the distinctive close cell shape.
As a synthetic material EPS is a threat to the environment
EPS is completely atoxic and does not contain CFC or HCFC, which notoriously increase and accelerate the greenhouse effect.
Furthermore being of no nutritional value prevents dangerous micro-organism development.
EPS cannot be recycled
on the contrary EPS can be recycled up to 100% and utilized in production of new containers, lightening building materials or soil in agriculture. Burning has the same caloric intensity of gasoline.
EPS containers are more efficient than the same in cardboard
comparative study between EPS and corrugated cardboard demonstrated how EPS containers perform better both in goods protection and conservation , as well as in environmental impact
EPS is a saving material !
on one hand EPS containers are light and handy ,therefore they do not add extra weight in goods transport allowing considerable fuel saving ;on the other hand his thermal and moisture insulation property allows a minor heath dispersion :it has been calculated that each kilogram of oil utilized in his production allows a 150 kilos fuel saving in 50 years.
This shows that in an EPS panels insulated house it is possible a 3 to 6 cubic meters saving of methane per square meter.