Aside from the EUMEPS General Assembly in November 2022 EUMEPS Director General, Jürgen Lang was interviewed by the Czech newspaper Prumyslová ekologie. In the interview, Jürgen mentions the numerous benefits of EPS which distinguish it from other external insulation materials. Apart from energy efficiency, resource efficiency, cost-efficiency and durability, the sustainability aspect of the various available recycling technologies for EPS are discussed. The text also gives a brief overview of the current situation in the European EPS market. Below is a translation of the interview.
"Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is a material with fascinating properties. Light, easy to work with and above all – an excellent insulator. In the Czech Republic, it is used to insulate the facades of the vast majority of buildings. Its importance grows with the price of energy, and its production has a long tradition in our country. At the end of November, the annual conference of the European Manufacturers Association of Expanded Polystyrene (EUMEPS) was held in Prague, where all important and less important EPS manufacturers gathered. We took the opportunity to speak with its CEO, Jürgen Lang.
EPS is the most widespread material for building insulation in the Czech Republic. How is it in Europe as a whole, and are there any materials "competing" with EPS in the area of reducing the energy demand of buildings and insulation?
Due to its excellent insulating properties, EPS is the most widely used material for external insulation throughout Europe. The EPS insulation system significantly improves the energy efficiency of the home and reduces energy consumption. Studies have shown that the insulating ability of EPS exceeds the insulating ability of competing materials. In addition, the production process of expanded polystyrene is much more environmentally friendly and highly efficient in terms of the use of resources. It consumes significantly less energy and produces only a fraction of CO2 compared to the production of other insulating materials. In the current situation of high energy prices, EPS is thus a key material, as its production is not so energy-intensive, on the contrary, its application brings significant savings in heating costs.
Since the structure of the material is 98% air, it is not necessary to consume a lot of raw materials for its production. Thanks to the high proportion of air, the material is light and easy to handle. Other advantages are strength and resistance to weathering and mould. The lifespan of the material on the facade can be up to 50 years.
The circular nature is extremely important to our industry. EPS is mostly used as a monomaterial (i.e. not combined with other materials in one product) and is therefore 100% recyclable. EPS can be recycled by different types of recycling (mechanical, physical and chemical). The latest data confirm that it is a very recyclable material. In 2019, the total recycling rate of EPS waste in Europe was 30%, with an average annual growth rate of 4%.
Overall, the EPS industry uses resources more efficiently, bridging the gap between affordability, energy efficiency and recyclability. In my opinion, EPS has the potential to significantly participate in the fight for a better climate and to reduce Europe's dependence on energy imports.
How much EPS is produced globally, how much in Europe, what is the potential of EPS in the construction industry and how will the EPS market develop in the short, medium and long term?
The global EPS market is approximately 5.5 million tonnes, with Europe accounting for 30-35% of this demand. EPS has huge potential in the construction industry, as it offers the best ratio between performance and price, regardless of whether it is new construction or renovation.
The material can be used in a variety of ways and thanks to its easy handling and structure, it can be seamlessly adapted to the specific needs of the consumer. In my opinion, the market will grow even more in the coming years. People will think more about how to spend their finances and energy saving will be a big topic. After a short decline in the market, we expect demand to rise again in 2023.
EPS is flammable, so it is enriched with flame retardants. To what extent does the HBCD supplement comply with safety regulations, on what basis are the retarders chemically based and how friendly or unfriendly are they to the environment?
Fire safety in the construction industry is extremely important to us. Our industry is committed to the highest standards. EPS passes many fire safety tests on applications, so it is fully compatible with fire-safe constructions.
We also encourage the use of EPS only in fire-safe applications. In our view, this means that fire safety in buildings requires a comprehensive approach from the prevention of occurrence to the liquidation of any fire. In addition, the flame retardant HBCD is no longer used in Europe since 2014. It has been replaced with a polymer flame retardant that is sustainable and has no negative impact on the environment.
Given the long service life of buildings, the insulation of skins is still a relatively new matter, despite this, a considerable amount of EPS is already separated from demolitions. And with different types of flame retardants. What is the nature of this waste and how should it be handled?
We use the full range of available technologies for recycling: mechanical, physical and chemical. Each of them has its advantages and is suitable for different waste streams or desired characteristics of the recycled material. While mechanical and physical recycling are the best solutions for separately collected EPS waste, chemical recycling can also handle contaminated EPS waste. About our goal of protecting the climate and the environment, we always promote a flexible approach based on the need of minimizing CO2 emissions.
The EPS industry has developed the PSLoop technology, which can recycle even waste containing HBCD. The solvent-based process used cleans the material and allows the polystyrene to be separated from the flame retardant. HBCD is destroyed in a bromine recovery unit. The elemental bromine is recovered and can be reused to make new polymeric flame retardants, while the polystyrene is converted to general-purpose polystyrene (GPPS) in gel form, which can be used to make new EPS or other materials.
Demolition waste from EPS is currently processed together with other deconstruction waste. There is currently very little waste from EPS, but we expect that in the coming years, its amount will increase significantly in connection with the renewal of the building stock in Europe. We believe that all EPS waste will either be recycled using PS Loop or similar technologies, or incinerated with energy recovery."
Source: https://www.prumyslovaekologie.cz/info/eps-pozoruhodny-pomer-cena-vykon