Across Europe, momentum is building around practical solutions that support a circular economy while maintaining industrial efficiency and material performance. Expanded polystyrene (EPS), with its proven recyclability and resource-efficient profile, is increasingly recognised as part of this progress.
In this interview, Elin Sohlberg, Head of the Circular Division at BEWI, shares her perspective on how EPS can be managed as a valuable circular resource. She discusses BEWI’s integrated approach to recycling, the importance of effective collection systems, and the role of collaboration and innovation in strengthening Europe’s EPS value chain.
Elin, you have recently taken on the role of Head of the Circular Division at BEWI. What motivated this step in your career, and what does this new responsibility represent for you?
Taking on the role of Head of the Circular Division was a natural progression of my passion for sustainability and innovation. Over the years, I’ve seen firsthand the critical importance of closing the loop on materials that are widely used, yet under-recycled. EPS is one such material, highly durable and valuable, yet often misunderstood. Stepping into this role allows me to lead a team committed to transforming EPS from a single-use perspective into a truly circular resource. It represents a chance to align business performance with environmental leadership and to help shape industry practices that can have a meaningful impact across Europe.
BEWI Circular operates within one of Europe’s largest vertically integrated EPS groups. How does this structure strengthen your capacity to scale up EPS recycling?
Being part of a vertically integrated group gives us exceptional advantages in scaling EPS recycling. It means we have visibility and influence across the entire value chain, from material sourcing and product design through to manufacturing, collection, and reuse. This integration enables efficient logistics, optimised processing, and closer collaboration between production and circularity teams. Rather than working in silos, we can iterate quickly and implement systemic improvements that accelerate recycling capacity and quality at scale. It also strengthens our ability to invest in the right infrastructure and partnerships for long-term impact.
Few people realise that EPS is 100% recyclable and often outperforms alternatives in environmental impact. What do you wish policymakers and the wider public better understood about EPS?
I wish there was wider recognition that EPS is not only 100% recyclable, but also one of the most resource-efficient materials available when managed properly. It’s lightweight, durable, and often requires less energy and fewer raw materials to produce compared with many alternatives. Sadly, perception hasn’t kept pace with innovation. Too many policymakers and consumers still see EPS as waste rather than a high-value resource. We need to shift the narrative: EPS should not be dismissed because of visible litter issues; solutions must focus on better collection, awareness, and infrastructure, not bans alone.
Collection remains one of the major bottlenecks in EPS recycling. In your view, what concrete actions are needed to significantly improve collection rates across Europe?
Improving EPS collection starts with three concrete priorities:
- Standardised collection streams across municipalities—so EPS isn’t excluded from recycling programs or ends up in mixed waste.
- Incentives for return systems, particularly for commercial and industrial EPS, which form a large part of the waste stream.
- Public education and collaboration with waste managers to build understanding of how to handle EPS correctly.
We also need policy frameworks that require manufacturers and distributors to support collection infrastructure, creating accountability and funding for sustainable end-of-life solutions. Without these structural changes, recycling rates will continue to lag behind the material’s potential.
Europe’s plastics recycling sector is facing intense pressure. What makes you confident that the EPS value chain — and BEWI Circular — can remain resilient in this context?
Resilience comes from both the inherent properties of EPS and the commitment of the value chain. EPS retains high material quality through multiple recycling loops, a major advantage compared with some other plastics. At BEWI Circular, we’re investing in technology, partnerships, and market development to ensure recycled EPS has strong commercial value. Our vertically integrated position also provides stability: we can balance supply and demand more effectively and reinvest in growth areas even when external pressures are high. Ultimately, resilience is rooted in collaboration across industry, policymakers, and customers to build markets that recognise recycled EPS as a reliable, valuable input.
Your ambition is to ‘close the loop’ for EPS. What does a truly circular EPS system look like in practice, and what milestones do you see ahead?
A truly circular EPS system means:
- High collection rates: EPS waste is consistently captured across all segments, commercial, industrial, and household.
- Efficient recycling infrastructure: Multiple facilities across regions capable of processing a broad range of EPS waste streams.
- Strong markets for recycled material: Recycled EPS is an accepted and preferred feedstock in new products.
- Design for circularity: Products are designed from the outset to be easier to collect and recycle.
Key milestones ahead include establishing collection protocols in every key European market, achieving measurable increases in recycling capacity year on year, and establishing certification schemes that recognise recycled EPS content. Ultimately, we want a system where EPS waste is routinely viewed and treated as a resource.
BEWI is an active member of EUMEPS. You participated in the “Women of EUMEPS” campaign. From your perspective, how can EUMEPS support the transition towards circularity, and what role should an industry association play in strengthening Europe’s EPS recycling systems?
EUMEPS plays a vital role in bringing the industry together to advocate for realistic, impactful policies and standards. Associations like EUMEPS can provide data and expertise to policymakers when decisions about material management are being made.
Other important areas include driving harmonisation of recycling practices, supporting the scaling of best practices across borders, and promoting education and awareness about the benefits and recyclability of EPS.
Participating in “Women of EUMEPS” was also a powerful reminder of the importance of diverse voices in shaping a sustainable industry. Industry associations should champion inclusion, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because diverse perspectives drive better solutions and stronger collaboration.
Looking ahead, which innovations or developments in EPS recycling excite you the most, and how might they reshape Europe’s circular economy?
What excites me most is the coming together of digitalisation and material science in recycling; digital tracking of material that lays a foundation for improved sorting technologies, automation, and advanced chemical recycling techniques that complement mechanical processing. These innovations can unlock new volumes of material that were previously hard to reclaim and improve quality and economic viability. Additionally, design for circularity approaches and forums that connect waste generators with recyclers more efficiently will reshape how we think about EPS as a resource. As these innovations scale, they don’t just transform EPS recycling; they strengthen the broader European circular economy by proving that high-performance plastics can be part of a sustainable future.
Elin Sohlberg’s perspective underlines that achieving a truly circular EPS system is less about reinvention and more about implementation at scale. High collection rates, efficient recycling infrastructure, robust markets for recycled material and design for circularity all emerge as essential building blocks. Her reflections also highlight the importance of collaboration across the value chain and the stabilising role of industry organisations such as EUMEPS, particularly in supporting harmonised approaches and evidence-based policymaking. Taken together, the interview presents a realistic and confident outlook: with the right frameworks in place, EPS can play a reliable and sustainable role in Europe’s climate-neutral and circular.