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ENVIRONMENT

Expanded plastics are considered stable and biologically inert. They do not act as a nutritional medium for mold or bacteria and they do not dissolve in water. When buried, they do not break down, release any hydrosoluble substance that could pollute the water table, or emit any gas into the atmosphere.

Energy efficiency

Like all plastics, expanded resins are made from petroleum by-products. However, since they are composed of up to 98% air, their energy efficiency is superior to many other materials.

The manufacturing of EPS packaging requires up to 3 times less energy than the process for corrugated cardboard. The fabrication of the raw materials does not generate any air or water pollutants. Products made of expanded resins can be used in many applications to replace wood-based materials. This results in better use of our natural resources and protects our forests. The fuel used to produce all of the world’s plastics represents less than 5% of total fuel consumption. Plastics are a superior way of transforming petroleum into efficient, durable materials. Insulation made of EPS also reduces heat loss, thereby decreasing fossil fuel consumption and helping the fight against global warming.

In the case of home insulation, EPS generates long-term savings of more than 20% of annual heating costs compared to conventional insulation.
With respect to food transport, EPS containers maintain the cold chain, thereby guaranteeing better preservation of foodstuffs and pharmaceutical temperature sensitive products. This reduces losses and ensures freshness (example from France: article on turbot in french - ref. ECO PSE, France).

Appearance of a cellular plastic under the microscope

The ozone layer

The expanded resins transformed by Polymos do not contain any CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) or HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons). Expanded polystyrene (EPS) and the other resins (EPP and EPE) do not have any negative effects on the ozone layer!

Porogen

The inflating agents needed to expand EPS are steam and pentane (C5H12) in the proportion 3%–6%. The latter is an organic compound of the alkane family (similar to propane gas). In contrast to CO2, alkanes are inert molecules that do no absorb infrared light and are therefore not considered greenhouse gases. Pentane is inflammable, odourless and 2.5 times denser than air. It is mainly released during the pre-expansion stage, after which it biodegrades through a photochemical reaction (half-life: 1–10 days). There are no known toxic environmental effects for pentane.

The 3 Rs – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

These days, plastic waste can be recovered in most cities for subsequent recycling or reuse.

Products made of EPS, EPP and EPE can be entirely recycled by industrial means. However, very few residential services pick them up because of the low return per volume (they are 98% air).

At Polymos, all waste is recycled by re-injecting it in a specific proportion during the moulding of certain products. The properties of parts produced in this way are not significantly modified and their production costs are lowered.

Parts made of expanded resins are often ground up and recycled as foam granules (“styrosol”) that are mixed with soil in order to lighten it. This process aerates the soil and improves water retention, resulting in a more fertile, workable soil.

For the consumer, the land filling with packaging made of expanded resins is a simple solution that is safe for the environment. Since expanded resins are chemically inert and stable, they do not break down, meaning they will not contaminate the soil, air or water table.

Contrary to popular belief, some biodegradable products are actually harmful to the environment. When they decompose, compounds that break down may contaminate the groundwater or release a gas (methane) that is 25 times more polluting than CO2.

According to a scientific study by eminent geologists, the ideal waste burial site would be one containing only buried plastic materials. These sites would be stable, safe and economical to operate. Later, buildings and highways could be safely built over them.

Waste reduction

When designing packaging, Polymos’ engineers use all their experience and know-how to optimize design concepts and minimize the use of resins. Once their useful life has ended, parts made of expanded resins, like any other waste, should be properly disposed of in order to prevent visual pollution. While these products are not harmful, it is still left to users to dispose of them in a responsible manner.

The most environmentally-friendly packaging materials (from best to worst)

This table clearly shows the gap between the reality (scientific studies) and public perception with respect to plastics and their environmental impact.

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