This year marked the arrival of Emanuela Gallo, EU Technical Affairs Manager at EUMEPS, who joined the team in February 2024. Emanuela’s addition significantly reinforced EUMEPS’s technical expertise, particularly in addressing fire-related challenges within the EPS industry. Her background and skill set brings new energy to the organisation, enabling EUMEPS to further support its members in navigating increasingly complex regulatoryand technical landscapes.

Reflecting on this new role, Emanuela described it as “an exciting and challenging opportunity to play a vital role at the forefront of European initiatives.” 

Emanuela’s contributions were quickly put into action during the Czech-Slovak EPS Association’s 113th Meeting in September 2024. The meeting provided an important platform for EUMEPS to showcase its ongoing fire safety initiatives, focusing on key topics such as façade fire testing and the safety of photovoltaic (PV) panels. EUMEPS used the opportunity to strengthen relationships with regional players, exchange insights, and reaffirm its role as a leader in addressing fire safety standards across Europe.

EUMEPS played a key role in strengthening EPS as a sustainable and recyclable material within the circular economy. Advocacy efforts by Lea Salihovic, EU Policy Manager of EUMEPs, under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) successfully highlighted the critical role of EPS fish boxes in reducing food waste and ensuring resource efficiency.

“By safeguarding EPS’s position in the regulation, EUMEPS has demonstrated its commitment to advancing long-term environmental goals”, explains Lea Salihovic.

These efforts will continue as EUMEPS advocates for a better regulatory position for fish boxes, ensuring their recognition as part of Europe’s sustainability ambitions.

In November, after more than a year of consultations, the JRC (Joint Research Centre) published its final report on End-of-Waste criteria for plastics. This report harmonises EU-wide rules to determine when plastic waste ceasesto be waste and becomes a new product.

For EUMEPS members, this milestone is critical. It ensures that EPS waste will now be recognised as a product, facilitating seamless cross-border transport across the EU without unnecessaryregulatory burdens.

Jakub Stefaniak, EU Technical Affairs Manager at EUMEPS who played an instrumental role in this process, expressed satisfaction with the outcome: “After more than a year of collaboration, we are pleased to see that the challenges related to EPS recyclingwere addressed. The final report reflects our shared vision for a harmonised, efficient system.”

This result strengthens industry confidence in the quality of recycled EPS and supports the circular economy goals set by the European Union.

Under the guidance of Emanuela Gallo, EU Technical Affairs Manager, UMEPS undertook a major initiative in October 2024 to conduct large-scale fire safety tests in collaboration with IVH and BASF, two of its valued members. These tests evaluated the compatibility of EPS insulation systems with photovoltaic (PV) panels on flat roofs, a growing area of focus as renewable energy integration becomes more widespread in modern construction.

The results of this project underscored EPS’s ability to meet the highest fire safety standards without compromising its performance as a reliable insulation material. By addressing concerns related to PV integration, EUMEPS demonstrated itsproactive approach to innovation and technical excellence.

Emanuela praised the success of the initiative, stating: “This is a great example of how collaborative initiatives among different stakeholders can lead toimpressive results.” Such efforts not only position EPS as a safe and adaptable solution for energy-efficient buildings but also reinforce EUMEPS’s commitment to supporting its members as they navigate the challenges of an evolving construction sector.

Jakub Stefaniak had the opportunity to promote circularity and education when he delivered a presentation at Poznań University of Technology in June. Addressing students and professors, alongside speakers from DG ENVI and Adam Mickiewicz University, Jakub highlighted the role of associations like EUMEPS in Brussels and discussed circularity legislation impacting the construction sector,including the CPR. His presentation sparked meaningful discussions on the real-world challenges faced by companies, particularly SMEs, in achieving circularity.

Notably, participation in Jakub’s session doubled the expected attendance, reflecting the growing interest among future professionals. As he noted, “It was rewarding to see such interest from students and to trigger important conversations about the market challenges and opportunities in circularity.” 

In 2024, EUMEPS actively contributed to the international negotiations for the Global Plastic Treaty, collaborating with EU Member States and global stakeholders to promote balanced and science-based measures. During these discussions, EUMEPS, representedby Jürgen Lang and Lea Salihovic, emphasised the environmental benefits of EPS, including its proven recyclability.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) acknowledged EPS in its report, Plastic Pollution Science, as one of the few packaging formats that are recyclable at scale. According to the report: “While many polymers are theoretically recyclable, only a handful of packaging formats are provento be recyclable in practice and on a large scale. These products include PET bottles, HDPE bottles, and EPS for transport packaging (e.g. fish crates or protection of large items).”

While divergent views and tight timelines prevented a final agreement at the Busan session in November 2024, the unwavering commitment to collaboration and trust-building was a source of inspiration.

As Lea Salihovic noted, “The strong willingness to collaborate, to listen actively, and to build trust gives me hope. It is key to making progress on developinga legally binding instrument to address plastic pollution, including in marine environments.”

EUMEPS remains steadfast in its support for the treaty, believing in a better, cleaner future for new generations. 

In April, the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) was adopted after months of negotiations between the European Commission, the EU Council, and the European Parliament. The directive, despite reduced targets for energy efficiency, remains ambitious and setsa framework for Europe’s renovation wave.

For EUMEPS, this legislation represents a critical opportunity to position EPS as a leading insulation material, supporting the transformation of Europe’s building stock into energy-efficient structures.

EUMEPS’s advocacy efforts ensured that insulation remained central to the discussions, with Jakub Stefaniak acknowledging the importance of continued engagement: “The EPBD is a major step toward a climate-neutral Europe. Now, we must remind national governments that insulation remains the most effective solution for reducing energy consumption and lowering householdbills.”  

With renovation plans now to be drafted at the national level, EUMEPS will continue its work to ensure insulation is prioritised as the cornerstone of energy efficiency. 

Through strategic advocacy, technical expertise, and meaningful international and educational outreach, EUMEPS made substantial progress in 2024. By strengthening EPS’s position in keyregulations, advancing circularity, and contributing to global initiatives like the Plastic Treaty, EUMEPS remains at the forefront of promoting EPS as a vital solution for a sustainable, circular, and climate-neutral Europe.