Jun 8 2009
The Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers (AFPR) has just released “Thinking Clean, Acting Green”, a new environmental toolkit focusing on expanded polystyrene (EPS) transport packaging. Designed especially for original equipment manufacturers, it provides detailed information about EPS in simple, user-friendly terms that re-examines common misperceptions and further demonstrates how EPS is playing an important role in sustainability. The toolkit includes extensive life cycle information from third party sources, recycling guidelines to establish internal collection programs and a packaging insert to promote increased consumer access to EPS recycling.
The toolkit offers extensive life cycle data, including an EPS Environmental Profile Analysis that quantifies resource use, energy use and environmental emissions associated with manufacturing and distribution. In this cradle-to-grave assessment ― from raw material acquisition to processing, transportation and final disposition ― the study shows that as recycling increases, atmospheric and waterborne emissions decrease by up to 9%, while energy use can achieve a 14% reduction depending on the level of recycled content and the actual recycling method.
This is a key aspect of the sustainability equation with clear benefits beyond solid waste management alone. AFPR's 2008 EPS Recycling Rate Report, complied by R.W. Beck, reports an overall 41% recycling rate; with almost 20% representing post-consumer and post-commercial collection. EPS is one of the most widely recycled foam cushioning materials demonstrating a high recycling rate among the plastics family; however, increased participation is needed to make further progress.
As OEMs refine their own sustainability initiatives, AFPR offers tools to help build EPS into their programs. PS: Think Recycling is a step-by-step guide on how to implement an EPS recycling program. Another valuable tool is a sample packaging insert that companies can customize for their individual use. Placed in shipping containers, or included in web content, it explains how EPS packaging supports basic sustainability principles through safe product delivery and offers resources on recycling access.
Safe product delivery is an elementary function of transport packaging. Yet, it is not typically quantified from an environmental perspective, but merely stipulated as a prerequisite. However, product damage can be measured in environmental terms – in re-manufacture, re-transportation and disposal of the damaged goods. Products packaged in EPS result in lower damage rates in a variety of key applications. This should perhaps be the first point of measurement when considering the environmental tradeoffs between cushioning material choices. The impacts of remanufacture for a light fixture or 40” television far outweigh a minor discrepancy in energy use for manufacturing between two packaging materials.
While there are some cases where EPS can be replaced by alternative materials without jeopardizing performance, many companies that attempt to eliminate EPS simply cannot find suitable replacements. Green washing – the practice of over-inflating or misstating environmental claims – can be intentional, but most often is unintentional. In either case, the responsibility to verify environmental performance claims rests squarely on the user. With this new toolkit AFPR hopes to set the stage for a new level of data transparency by relying on third-party resources and information that is easily transferred from the theoretical into practical application.
To access the Toolkit materials, go to www.epspackaging.org/toolkit/ and enter ‘epsworks’ as the user name and the password ‘toolkit’. A copy of a CD-Rom with all the OEM Sustainability Toolkit materials also is available from the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers, 410-451-8340.