# Polystyrene and EPS

Polystyrene and expandable polystyrene (EPS): the rigid and foamed plastics of food packs, appliance liners, insulation boards and protective packaging.

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polystyrene/

Pseudo-commodities · Commodity plastics · No. 51

- Single chemical
- Feedstock: Oil, gas or coal
- about 15 Mt a year of PS and EPS (2024, indicative: styrene tile basis of 42% x 35 Mt styrene); roughly 8-9 Mt GPPS and HIPS and 6-7 Mt EPS (indicative split)
- 3.0 t CO₂e per t
- HS 390311, 390319
 Pseudo-commodities · Commodity plastics · Foundation · Matter

Foamed polystyrene is about 98% air, which makes it a superb insulator and a bulky, hard-to-recycle waste.

Chart: Illustration: Polystyrene and EPS

##### Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Styrene is polymerised in bulk for clear GPPS or rubber-toughened HIPS, or in water as beads soaked with pentane that later puff up into EPS foam.

##### Three things to know

1. About 42% of the world's roughly 35 Mt of styrene becomes polystyrene and EPS, around 15 Mt a year.
2. At about 3 t CO2e per tonne, PS is among the most carbon-heavy commodity plastics.
3. India banned thermocol decoration items and several single-use PS products in 2022.

##### The journey

1. 1 **Styrene**0.79 t benzene, 0.28 t ethylene
2. 2 **Bulk polymerising**GPPS and HIPS at 110-180 C
3. 3 **EPS beads**Suspension beads soaked with 4-7% pentane
4. 4 **Conversion**Thermoformed, moulded or steam-expanded foam
5. 5 **End of life**Food packs minutes, insulation decades

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## Other sections

- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polystyrene/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polystyrene/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polystyrene/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polystyrene/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polystyrene/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polystyrene/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polystyrene/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polystyrene/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polystyrene/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polystyrene/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polystyrene/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polystyrene/links/index.md)