Retailers, especially electrical retailers, selling home electronics and appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners, ovens, microwaves, vacuum cleaners and blenders, are often packed with polystyrene foam because of its buffering effect, cost-effectiveness and long-lasting properties.

Expanded polystyrene foam is more than 95% air and only about 5% plastic, that’s why it is widely used to make home and appliance insulation and lightweight protective packaging. With the increasing use of polystyrene in packaging, more and more attention has been paid to polystyrene recycling.

In the UK, electrical retailers generally take back polystyrene packaging after the appliances are delivered and installed into households. The polystyrene packaging is then collected by the electrical retailers distributing centers or their logistics partners, recyclers or waste management providers.

How to recycle polystyrene? The best way is for electrical retailers to recycle polystyrene packaging in their distributing centers.

Why do electrical retailers need to recycle polystyrene packaging?

1. ESG Strategy: Environment, Social Responsibility and Governance

Corporations committed to recycling and sustainability are contributing to promoting a circular economy, protecting the environment and making contributions to human welfare.

2. Facilitate polystyrene waste to better enter the circular economy

The recycling of waste should be from the source. If all wastes are mixed , it will increase the difficulty of recycling and reduce the recycling rate.

3. Save space and keep your working environment safe and clean.

4. Reduce disposal fees and get added-value from recycling.

Polystyrene recycling is a dual-value activity, not only a benefit to society but also a benefit to corporations.

Companies generally need to pay to handle bulky expanded polystyrene packaging, and after being recycled by a polystyrene compactor or melted by a polystyrene melter, it will become a valuable product and enter into final green product production.

With the manufacturers’ demand for recycled plastic materials increasing, recycled polystyrene materials will be more and more valuable, and recycling will become a basic movement for every company.

Learn more about different materials recycling technology and equipment:

Foam：

Polystyrene

Polyethylene

XPS

EPP

PSP

Applicable Equipment：

Compactor

Shredder

Conveying system

Pelletizing Equipment & Machines

Tailor-made system