With more than a decade at Schlaadt and extensive experience in product development and application engineering, Stephan Anderson has built a career centred on the development of innovative particle foam solutions. Now leading Research & Development, he is focused on advancing resource-efficient products while addressing the technical and regulatory challenges linked to the circular economy. In this interview, Stephan shares his perspectives on innovation, collaboration across the EPS value chain, the importance of effective communication, and the role that high-performance EPS solutions can play in supporting more energy-efficient and climate-neutral buildings.
Can you tell us about your professional journey and how you came to work in the EPS industry and eventually at Schlaadt?
I began my professional career at Albert, then part of Hoechst AG in Wiesbaden. After a short time, I moved to a manufacturer of fibre-reinforced plastic semi-finished products, where I initially worked in the technical centre before moving into technical sales. Following a brief period with a processor of these materials, I joined Schlaadt in 2011 as Innovation Manager. From 2014 to 2021, I was responsible for Application Engineering, and since 2021, I have been leading the Research & Development department.
As a Product Development Manager, what does your day-to-day work involve, and what are the main technical challenges you are currently working on?
Particle foams, not only EPS, are materials with fascinating properties and, at times, surprising capabilities. My current focus is on addressing the challenges of the circular economy, particularly the associated technical and regulatory requirements.
You work closely with partners such as BASF. How does this cooperation between raw material suppliers and converters support innovation in EPS?
Close cooperation with the major manufacturers of particle foams is essential to remain competitive. However, this is only part of the solution, as the perspectives and requirements of medium-sized companies are not always aligned with those of large multinational corporations. Even so, this close exchange helps us identify new applications and improve the efficiency and performance of existing ones.
EPS continues to evolve in terms of thermal performance, recyclability and resource efficiency. Which developments do you currently find the most significant for the industry?
At present, the industry's greatest challenge is the public perception of EPS. Other materials, cardboard in particular, have succeeded—through emotional attachment and long-standing familiarity, beginning as early as nursery school, where children work with paper and glue—in presenting themselves as the better option, despite often being technically less suitable. As a result, the EPS industry continues to face resistance and misconceptions that are not supported by the facts.
For my work, particularly in the field of EPS packaging, this means finding practical solutions to the requirements of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), especially regarding recycled content and recycling at scale, while maintaining efficient processing within EPS manufacturing. A key factor is ensuring that EPS packaging is collected and returned to the recycling loop in the purest possible form.
Finally, it is not enough to develop these technical solutions. We also need to communicate them clearly, widely and effectively. Engaging policymakers with factual and accessible information is particularly important.
You regularly attend trade fairs and industry events across Europe. Which trends or discussions are currently shaping the insulation and EPS market?
As our company has only limited involvement in insulation products, I will focus on EPS packaging, particularly for household appliances.
The European EPS market is currently facing a challenging environment. In my view, the main issues are the material's public image, dependence on external raw material resources, a shrinking market as manufacturing shifts to other regions, and less favourable conditions for automating production facilities.
At the same time, the PPWR is forcing the industry to rethink established approaches. This creates opportunities for companies that are prepared to take a long-term and forward-looking approach.
The construction sector is facing growing expectations regarding sustainability and energy performance. What role can EPS play in supporting a more climate-neutral and resource-efficient building stock?
In many sectors, competition is still driven primarily by price rather than by the value that products deliver. In my view, EPS should be much more confident in comparing its performance with alternative solutions, both in construction and in packaging.
Today, being the lowest-cost option is no longer enough to succeed. The industry needs to present the full picture, combining factual, evidence-based information with communication that also resonates on a human level. Thanks to its unique physical properties and performance, EPS is ideally placed to do exactly that.
Product and material testing are an important part of your work. In your view, what defines an innovative or high-performance EPS product today?
An innovative EPS product combines several key characteristics:
- Efficient use of resources through intelligent design and the incorporation of recycled content.
- The integration of multiple technical properties and functions within a single product.
- The use of modern, innovative machinery and tooling concepts.
- A process-oriented rather than product-oriented mindset. The question should always be: How can efficiencies be created across the entire value chain, even if the benefits are realised outside my own area of responsibility? This approach creates long-term advantages for the material, although it is unfortunately not yet widely adopted.
After many years in the industry, what continues to motivate you most about your work and the development of the European EPS sector?
EPS, and particle foams more generally, are fascinating materials that achieve outstanding performance with minimal use of resources. My motivation is to help bring these benefits to as many applications as possible.
People working in research and development are, by nature, pioneers who constantly explore new possibilities. EPS is a material with a long and successful history, yet even after so many years, we continue to discover new applications. That demonstrates just how much untapped potential this material still has.
Throughout the interview, Stephan Anderson highlights that the future of EPS depends not only on continued technical innovation but also on demonstrating its proven performance through clear, evidence-based communication. From increasing recycled content and improving circularity to developing more efficient products and processes, the sector continues to adapt to evolving market and regulatory expectations. For Stephan, the combination of outstanding technical performance, efficient use of resources and the untapped potential of particle foams remains a strong motivation to contribute to the ongoing development of the European EPS industry.