Description
The EPS-FISH project aims to solve a global problem concerning the recovery of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) from fish and seafood boxes. Nowadays, EPS waste from fish and seafood boxes/containers are mainly compacted and exported to non-European countries (mainly China) in order to be recovered. In most of the cases the final treatment process remains unknown. This situation results in a loss of raw materials and significant environmental impacts related to transport, including CO2 emissions which affect climate change.The project proposes a global, technical and sustainable solution for the recovery of EPS waste through the development and optimisation of the mechanical recycling process in order to obtain a sustainable material for constructive applications. The recycled material is expected to have the following properties: odourless and high impact strength. In addition to its environmental benefit, beneficiaries from the project will be the users of EPS boxes for fish and seafood and manufacturers of EPS (mainly sheets and blocks of sound and thermal insulation).
Summary of project results
Producers of EPS-box used in the seafood industry need to improve upon their image by reducing the environmental impact that results from the production and packaging of fresh fish. The project was sought to achieve a double objective. On the one hand, to reduce the environmental impact caused by dumping EPS fish boxes on landfills and the other, to develop Polystyrene (PS) materials with good mechanical and organoleptic characteristic from this odorous residue. The project objectives have been achieved. We have obtained a recycled material practically devoid of odor that has been accepted by customers for use in insulation panels in construction material. From the economic point of view the material obtained is at least 25% cheaper than GPPS material used in this application
Summary of bilateral results