Is EPS (Styrofoam) really that bad? An honest look
EPS — also known as Styrofoam or expanded polystyrene — has been under pressure in the sustainability debate for years. “Single-use,” “hard to recycle,” “polluting”: the associations are rarely positive. But is that image 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 the material
The EPS recycling problem in the Netherlands is not the material itself, but collection. EPS boxes often end up in residual waste because:
- Many municipalities do not have separate EPS collection
- EPS is bulky and therefore requires many transport kilometres per kilogram
- Consumers do not always know where they can return it
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 — a closed EPS loop is increasingly being created: boxes are collected centrally, compacted and returned to EPS producers as raw material. This effectively makes EPS circular.
What Cooled Solutions is working on
We refer customers to local EPS collection points wherever possible, and offer B2B customers with larger volumes solutions for central returns. In addition, we invest in alternatives for shipments where EPS is not the best choice — such as honeycomb cardboard for 24-hour shipments that can go into the paper recycling bin.
EPS versus honeycomb: which to choose and 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 altogether. Our advisers are happy to help you make that assessment.
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Need the right packaging right away? View our EPS boxes, sustainable cold chain packaging, honeycomb insulated boxes and our vision on sustainability.
