STOROPACK HAS JOINED THE EPS INDUSTRY ALLIANCE IN NORTH AMERICA
Metzingen, February 2020. Storopack recently joined the EPS Industry Alliance (EPSIA) and is thus committed to developing a country-wide collection infrastructure for expanded polystyrene (EPS). Based in the US, the EPSIA’s primary purpose is to educate consumers and government officials about the benefits of EPS in all forms, and, above all, how to recycle EPS safely and efficiently. Storopack uses EPS in a variety of applications, including the manufacture of its PELASPAN® PAC Loose Fill packaging peanuts. Often mistaken for a single-use plastic by consumers and municipalities, they can end up in the landfill. But EPS can be fully recycled and, importantly, there is no limit to the amount of times EPS Loose Fill can be reused. In addition, Storopack’s PELASPAN® PAC is already made from 100% recycled plastic, making it a highly sustainable packaging solution.
“We joined the EPSIA to gain an important channel to re-awaken consumers to the benefits of our PELASPAN® PAC packaging peanuts. There are often no recycling programs for EPS products such as food and electronics packaging or Loose Fill in municipalities. With our commitment, we would like to raise awareness of the EPSIA return infrastructure and where consumers can take these products for re-use and recycling,” explains Tom Eckel, Storopack Loose Fill Product Manager.
Eco-Friendly and Reusable
As part of its predecessor, the Plastic Loose Fill Council, the EPSIA has updated and expanded the existing infrastructure in the US to re-use, not merely recycle, Loose Fill. The EPS Industry Alliance has already established numerous collection points for EPS products. This includes thousands of mailing, shipping and mailbox stores across the US, as well as each of the 18 Storopack manufacturing locations in North America. The stores are happy to receive free packaging material and the planet is better off by putting no energy or resources into transforming Loose Fill into another shape or function. Around 60% of all the packaging peanuts in the market come from recycling or re-use, making them an especially attractive solution for eco-friendly and safe shipment of goods.