EPS means Expanded Polystyrene and was invented in 1944. This petrochemical plastic is obtained from crystal polystyrene or Crystal PS and it’s composed of 98% of air. XPS means extruded polystyrene. It is also an expanded or foamed plastic made of polystyrene.

  We can identify EPS and XPS products in many things we use in our daily lives, such as cups, lids, and food containers. Many of these are single-use plastics (designed to be used only once). But they can also be hidden inside applications from bike helmets to surf boards.

  Foamed polystyrene plastics have many different uses. EPS is often used to insulate living areas such as roofs, walls or floors. In the food packaging sector, EPS and XPS are used to keep a product at the right temperature. They are used in the production of fish crates and meat trays, for instance. EPS is also used in industrial packaging to protect several products, mainly home appliances.

  Foamed polystyrene has its advantages: it’s lightweight, inexpensive, mouldable and has great insulating properties (thermal, shock absorbent and holds liquids).

  But it is a serious marine litter problem. In the oceans, it breaks down into tiny fragments. These are eaten by plankton, fish and seabirds and as such enter the food chain. Ultimately, it can threaten us.

  Foamed polystyrene is very durable, so it accumulates in nature, damaging ecosystems we rely on. Also, it is absorbent, which means it acts like pollutant sponges. And being lightweight, it gets blown by the wind.

  Foamed polystyrene represents a paradox. It is relatively considered in the instructions of selective sorting because it represents only a weak mass per inhabitant (500g/inhabitant/year), but it´s very low density makes it the most produced plastic in terms of volume in 2016.