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What is Expandable Polystyrene? Commonly known as EPS, expandable polystyrene is a rigid, lightweight, foamedplasticproductwithexcellentthermalinsulationandimpactresistantproperties.EPSisproducedwhenpentane,dissolvedinsmallpolystyrenebeads,ismadetoexpandundertheinfluenceofheatandsteam.Thesefoamedbeadscanbemouldedintoawide range of shapesand sizes suitable for awealth of applications in packaging,insulationanddisposablecups.

Myths & Realities Weallhavedifferentperspectivesabouttheuseofplasticsintodaysworld.Thereisahealthyconcernabout theeffectofanymaterialon the environment. In order tounderstand better the impact of EPS, information from industry sponsored andindependentresearchstudieshavebeencollatedhere.TheseshowthatEPScupsaremoreenergyefficientthroughouttheirlifecyclethanpaperorceramiccups.Reducedenergy means less use of the earths resources and fewer emissions into theatmosphere.Thisisgoodforusandbetterfortheenvironment.

Whenusingplasticsinpackagingtheenergyrequiredislessthanhalfofthatrequiredfor nonplastic packaging. In addition, effective recyclingminimizesdepletion of ournaturalresources.Attheendofitslifetheplasticcaneitherberecycledasamaterialorusedasafuelinthesamewayastheoriginalfossilfuelthatcreatedit.

EPSaccountsforlessthanonetenthofonepercentoftheweightofmunicipalwaste.2

EPS contains pentane, not CFCs, which is broken down naturally and rapidly in theatmosphere.PentaneisnotarecognisedgreenhousegasandsouseofEPScupsdoesnotcontributetoglobalwarmingordepletionoftheozonelayer.

ThebasematerialforEPSispolystyrenewhichhasneithertastenorodour.EPScupsconsistofapproximately5%polystyreneand95%air.

EPS cups have a very high strength to weight ratio and have the highest stiffnesscompared tootherdisposablecontainers.This reducesdrinkspillagewhile improvingcomfortandsafetyforthecustomer.

EPS cups taste and smell like chemicals.

EPS cups have inferior strength which leads to spillage.

Reality

EPS is a major component of municipal waste and landfills.

EPS Cups contain hazardous CFCs that deplete the ozone layer and cause global warming.

EPS is a major component of municipal waste and landfills.

Plastics use up nonrenewable energy sources and are not energy efficient

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Environmentally Positive Life Cycle

EPS Cups are Energy Efficient

EPS Cups emerge as the most energy efficient when compared to all different kinds of drinking cups. For example,disposablepapercupsrequire2.75timesmoreenergythroughouttheirlivesthanEPSfoamcups(thedifferencebetweenthetwogreenhorizontallinesinthegraphbelow).

The reusable alternatives, ceramic, glass and plastic cups, usemore energy during their production, in addition to theenergyrequiredtocleantheminbetweenuses.Astheyareusedmoreoften,theenergyperusereduces(shownbythebluedownwardslopinglinesinthegraph).Aceramiccupneedstobeusedmore then1000timesbefore itreaches theequivalentenergyperuselevelofanEPSfoamcup.

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glass,5.5MJ/cup

plastic,6.3MJ/cup

0.8

0.6

Table 1 shows the number of usesnecessarybeforethereusablecuplistedontheleftbecomesequallyenergyefficienttothedisposablecuplistedonthetop.

0.0

Number of Uses

WhenputtingtogetherallofthefactorsinvolvedinthelifecycleitisapparentthatEPSisasafeandenvironmentallyfriendlymaterialtouse.

0. 4

Ene

rgy

pe

r use

, MJ

1. 0

0..2

Figure 1 The energy per use of each reusablecup(bluelines)declinesthemoreitisused.

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EPS Cups Conserve Resources

EPSmaximisesresourceefficiencybyreducing theuseoffuelandoilconsumption in thevehicles that transport themdue to their lighter weight and ability to provide smaller, less bulky packaging. In Europe, 4050% of all goods arepackagedinplastics,yettheweightoftheseplasticsonlyaccountfor10%ofallpackagingwaste.1

Waste is reduced through use of an EPS cupbecauseoneEPSfoamcupcansafelyprotectahand from burns and also keep a drink coldover an extended period of time. This avoidstheuseofdoublecuppingandextrasleeves.

Plastics in general are very effective inpreserving food and drinks. Additionally, EPSfoam keeps food and drinks at consummationtemperature longer, reducing food and drinkspoilage.

EPS is a highly effective recyclable materialthroughsuchmethodsas:reductionatsource,reuse,mechanicalrecycling,feedstockrecyclingand energy recovery. All of these recyclingmethodsarebeingpracticedtoday.

EPS Cups Limit Process Pollutants

With Plastics Packaging

Weight of packaging Energy consumed Volume of waste

Without Plastics

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1. EPSisrecyclable2. EPSdoesnotdepletetheozonelayer3. EPScontainsnoCFCs,HFCsorHCFC5s4. EPSrepresentsanefficientuseoftheworldsresources5. Food/drinkstaysfresherlongerresultinginlessfoodspoilage6. EPScupsaremoreenergyefficientthanceramicandpapercups

EPS Cups From Ineos Styrenics

TheIneosStyrenicsEPSCupGradeRangeIneos Styrenics produces dedicated cup grades that strive tominimise environmental impact throughout production. The tailormadeEPSbeadsizeandsurface treatment result inconsistentandefcientmouldingofcups.Reducedwallthicknessanddensitiescanbe achieved during moulding which saves material. Trouble freeproductionandeasyprocessingreducesthescraprate,makingmoreefcientuseofourresources.

IneosStyrenics cuprangehasauniquecombinationofexceptionalthermal properties, increased stiffnesswith no odour and excellentbarrierproperties.

D833B:0.350.50mmforregularcupsD933B:0.250.35mmforregular/thinwallcups

IneosStyrenicsCommitmenttoResponsibleCareandtheEnvironmentAsaleadingmanufacturerofstyrenicpolymersinEuropewefeelthatwe have the responsibility to protect our planet. By means ofenvironmental management systems, energy efficiency programmesandprocesssafetymanagementwestrivetoeliminatewaste,reduceemissions and decrease energy consumption. In order to effectivelyshareourviewsandinuenceEuropeanenvironmental legislationweareamemberofPlasticsEurope.

1.PlasticsEurope.org,ContributingtoEnvironmentalProtection2.APME/PWMI,(1991),PlasticsRecoveryinPerspective3.Hocking,MartinB.ReusableandDisposableCups:AnEnergyBasedEvaluation.EnvironmentalManagement18(6)4.FranklinAssociatesLTD,June1990,Resource&EnvironmentalProleAnalysisofFoamPolystyreneandBleachedPaperBoardContainers5.CFC:chlorouorocarbon,HFC:hydrouorocarbon,HCFC:hydrochlorourocarbon

Formoreinformationpleasecontact:

IneosStyrenicsInternationalSAAvenuedelaGare141700FribourgSwitzerlandPhone:+41264265656Fax: +41264265657

eps@ineosstyrenics.com