The Australian Government via the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) set the National Plastics Plan roadmap back in 2022 (with some revisions since) to phase out many business to consumer polystyrene foam (B2C) products which are considered single use and problematic. Products such as packaging peanuts and clam shell style EPS food and beverage containers have been banned as potential recyclability is low and of course food contamination of products decreases the potential for recycling of products without harsh chemicals and other environmental impacts.
Polyfoam are committed to the manufacture and recycling of polystyrene (EPS) foam products at all of our facilities nationally. We create EPS products used in the Building, Pharmaceutical, Transport, Industrial Packaging and Food Service Industries just to name a few. EPS is one of the worlds best protective materials which provides fantastic insulation and it is this insulation that protects its contents from external elements such as temperature and humidity variations.
One such product manufactured by Polyfoame are our Ice Cream/Gelato containers, sold around the country via resellers. These containers are developed with an Australian first design incorporating an integrated polystyrene liner and crystal finish lid so that stores simply need to place their chilled or frozen products directly into the container and place the lid on for premium protection. No more inserting a shaped liner (not recyclable with the foam) into the foam base and another film on top of the frozen product so it does not stick to the plain polystyrene foam lid as it is an all-in-one product, ready to use.
These products have been caught up in the single-use EPS bans, however the containers are designed as a take home insulated packaging, whereby the product is filled into the container and then transported to the customer or taken home by the customer, enduring a transport without refrigeration element, the major element of its design. The product is strong and designed for multiple uses, of course this is subject to stores willing to accept re-use and also individual state and council legislation regarding reusable containers. Due to feedback from stores and suppliers around the country, bans which were to be introduced in some states have been placed on hold, as a viable, cost effective alternative is not available for the purpose of transportation from stores to a customer premises.
These products are 100% recyclable as they are made entirely from polystyrene and as such can be recycled at a polystyrene foam recycling facility such as those provided by Polyfoam. We welcome any clean uncontaminated polystyrene foam for recycling at our facilities nationally.
