Is EPS (Styrofoam) really that bad? An honest look
Short answer: no, EPS is not inherently bad. It consists of more than 98% air, and the 2% polystyrene is highly recyclable — the problem lies in collection, not in the material. Clean EPS is 100% recyclable; choose the right material for each shipment type (EPS for 48h+ and heavy products, honeycomb cardboard for 24h webshop shipments that can go with paper recycling).
EPS — also known as expanded polystyrene foam — has been under pressure in the sustainability debate for years. “Single-use,” “hard to recycle,” “polluting”: the associations are rarely positive. But is that perception still accurate? An honest look.
What EPS really is
EPS (expanded polystyrene) consists of more than 98% air. The remaining 2% is polystyrene, a plastic that is, in principle, highly recyclable. The material itself is therefore extremely lightweight and contains surprisingly little raw material per box.
The real problem: logistics, not material
The EPS recycling problem in the Netherlands is not the material, but collection. EPS boxes often end up in residual waste because:
- Many municipalities do not have separate EPS collection
- EPS is bulky, resulting in many transport kilometres per kilo
- Consumers do not always know where they can hand it in
Where it does work
In countries such as Germany and Belgium, EPS is recycled on a large scale through specialised collection points. At larger companies — such as supermarket chains and fulfilment centres — closed EPS loops are increasingly being created: boxes are collected centrally, compacted and returned to EPS manufacturers as raw material. This effectively makes EPS circular.
What Cooled Solutions is working on
We refer customers to local EPS collection points where possible, and offer central return solutions for B2B customers with larger volumes. In addition, we invest in alternatives for shipments where EPS is not the best choice — such as honeycomb cardboard for 24h shipments that can go into the paper recycling bin.
EPS versus honeycomb: which to use when?
EPS remains the best choice for:
- Shipments with high insulation requirements (48h+)
- Heavy products where EPS strength matters
- Applications where weight and transport costs are critical
Honeycomb cardboard is a better choice for:
- Webshop shipments up to 24h where consumers can put the box in the paper recycling bin
- Brand marketing applications where the box supports sustainability positioning
- FSC-mandated supply chains
Conclusion
EPS is not inherently bad — it is an efficient material with a logistical challenge. If you are serious about sustainability, choose the right material for each shipment type instead of banning one material outright. Our advisors will be happy to help you make that assessment.
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