volume 2 | fall 2013
Advance innovative EPS product solutions that contribute to a sustainable future
Newsline
1298 Cronson Blvd. • Suite 201 • Crofton, MD 21114 • (800) 607-3772 • www.epsindustry.org • info@epsindustry.org
Innovation in Action –
Recycled Content EPS Resin
The EPA estimates that in most parts of the
developed world, packaging constitutes
as much as one-third of the non-industrial
solid waste stream. Packaging plays a
critical role in protecting products, but
as the sustainable packaging movement
has matured there has been growing
concern about the environmental impacts
of the resources used to make packaging
and its contribution to waste. Delivering
sustainable packaging is now an integral
part of today's global competitive market.
Packaging producers are undertaking
ambitious initiatives to incorporate recycled
content without sacrificing strength,
durability and performance.
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam packaging
is an engineered solution that solves many
packaging transport, safety and protection
problems. In order to appreciate real world
recycled content limitations in expanded
bead foam materials it is important to understand the supply chains and product
manufacturing methods. Because protective packaging manufacturers don't melt
the plastic beads, they can only incorporate
recycled in two ways: (1) blend in used EPS;
or (2) purchase resin that already contains
recycled content.
KAB PROMOTES
RECYCLING
BEHAVIOR
3
Until recently recycled content EPS resin was not widely incorporated into packaging
applications due to manufacturing and performance limitations. The challenge to
blend recycled resin with the right ratio of virgin resin in order to produce high quality
foam packaging with exacting performance has been elusive. But a new recycled
content resin is revolutionizing the foam packaging industry.
NOVA Chemicals worked with RAPAC, a leader in North American foam recycling, to
develop a 25% recycled content resin for EPS protective packaging and other shape
molding applications. R625B Expandable Polystyrene (EPS) Shape Molding Resin is
helping molders and brand owners achieve their
sustainability goals without compromising
standards for high performance packaging
materials.
Twenty five percent of the R625B feedstock
is EcoSix™, a 100% recycled polystyrene
resin from RAPAC, a RING Company based
in Oakland, Tennessee. RAPAC is the largest
recycler of EPS in the United States, keeping
millions of pounds of packaging material
from entering landfills. This reclaimed
material is the foundation of RAPAC's
EcoSix™ resins. There are two key factors
that distinguish EcoSix™ molding bead:
performance and certified recycled content.
The RAPAC EcoSix™ resin is certified to
have 100% recycled content by Scientific
Certification Systems and meets the FTC
and EPA guidelines for recycled content.
NOVA Chemicals is ISO-9001 certified and
produces R625B to those standards.
A CLOSER LOOK
AT COLD CHAIN
PACKAGING
5
EPS SOLUTIONS
FOR CONTINUOUS
INSULATION
8
TECH TALK:
ICC CODE
DEVELOPMENTS
9
Recycling gives everybody a sense of wellness. To help everyone do their part, the EPS Industry
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
Alliance is now on Facebook and Twitter . We will post information on new recycling
centers and events and creative, offbeat solid waste solutions for EPS foam.
