Polystyrene Boxes for Food
Concerns
over the use of PS should best be analysed based on facts rather than on
perception .
The fact
that advanced countries like Japan , US and The EU continue to allow the use of
PS as a food packaging material speaks volume about its safety .
Basically there are 2 forms of PS foam
·
Extruded polystyrene [ foam plates , egg cartons and other food food service applications ]
·
Expanded polysterene [ coffee
cups , packaging of delicate E & E appliances
, consumer products ]
Both
types are also used as thermal insulation in Industrial , commercial and
residential construction.
[i]What is EPS?
EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) or as many know by The Dow Chemical Company's
trade marked name, STYROFOAM,
is an extremely lightweight product that is made of expanded polystyrene beads.
Originally discovered by Eduard Simon in 1839 in Germany by accident, EPS foam
is more than 95% air and only about 5% plastic.
Small solid plastic particles of polystyrene are made from the monomer
styrene. Polystyrene is normally a solid thermoplastic at room temperature that can be melted at
higher temperature and re-solidified for desired applications. The expanded
version of polystyrene is about forty times the volume of the original
polystyrene granule.
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is a
versatile, lightweight material that can be manufactured into a variety of
products. EPS offers a high-performance
yet economical support for a wide variety of items—from sensitive
electronics to appliances to pharmaceuticals—to be safely delivered to market.
Manufacturers rely on EPS packaging because of its ability to prevent or minimize product damage during
transit and its excellent insulation properties required for food and
medical shipments.
Yet
EPS packaging, just like any disposable packaging, will eventually become a solid waste and have to be managed. But here’s the good news: EPS
is recyclable. Although the availability of polystyrene recycling programs
varies by community and can be limited, the EPS industry uses average of 50
percent of the post consumer material collected in the manufacture of new EPS
transport packaging and loose fill packaging, which has reduced requirements
for raw material resources, energy consumption has diverted material from landfills.
EPS
is made of about 95% air and is an inert
material without harmful chemicals that off-gas or leach during its use of
disposal .
[ii]Building and Construction
EPS is inert in nature and therefore does not result in any chemical
reactions. Since it will not appeal to any pests, it can be used easily in
the construction industry. It is also closed cell, so when used as a core
material it will asorb little water and in return, not promote mold or rotting.
EPS is durable, strong as well as lightweight and can be used as
insulated panel systems for facades, walls, roofs and floors in buildings,
as flotation material in the construction of marinas and pontoons and
as a lightweight fill in road and railway construction.
Why EPS Is
Advantageous?
·
High
thermal insulation
·
Resistant
to Moisture
·
Extremely
durable
·
Easily
recyclable
·
Versatile
in strength
·
Manufactured
into different shapes, sizes and compression materials
·
Lightweight
and portable
·
High shock
absorbency characteristics
·
Compression
resistant
Drawbacks of EPS
·
Not
resistant to organic solvents
·
Previously,
EPS was made from Chlorofluorocarbons which damaged the ozone layer
·
Flammable
if oil painted
·
Health
concerns with styrene chemicals seeping into hot beverages or food placed in
EPS cups
Recycling EPS
EPS is completely recyclable as it will become polystyrene plastic when
recycled. With the highest recycling
rates for any plastic and accounting for a non-substantial portion of
municipal waste, expanded polystyrene is an environmental friendly polymer. The
EPS industry encourages recycling of packaging material and many large
companies are successfully collecting and recycling the EPS.
EPS can be recycled in many different ways such as thermal densification
and compression. It can be reused in non-foam applications, lightweight
concrete, building products and remolded back into EPS foam.
Future of EPS
With the considerable number of applications, EPS is being used as a
result of its excellent range of properties, the future of the EPS industry is
bright. EPS is a cost-effective and friendly polymer best for insulation and
packaging purposes.
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