EUMEPS at the European ETICS Forum 2025: Circularity, Durability and Energy Renovation in Europe

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Written by: Ingrid

Category: News - Smart Insulation

Published: 13 November 2025

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• Building & Construction
• ETICS
• Advocacy
• Building Europe
• Applications for Buildings
• Advocating for EPS Buildings
• Clean Industrial Deal

The 7th European ETICS Forum 2025, organised by the European Association for External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems (EAE), took place on 12 November in Milan. The event gathered more than 200 specialists, including architects, façade engineers, designers, contractors, policymakers, public authorities, researchers and manufacturers, press agents. Viewed as the main European platform dedicated to ETICS, the Forum offers a comprehensive overview of market trends, technical developments and regulatory priorities shaping the renovation of Europe’s buildings.

EUMEPS participated as sponsor and contributor, represented by Jakub Stefaniak, Emanuela Gallo and Bianca Sereinig. The association’s involvement highlighted the central role of expanded polystyrene (EPS) in façade insulation systems and its contribution to circularity, durability and affordable energy renovation. Jakub delivered a dedicated presentation on the contribution of EPS to circular, sustainable and durable ETICS, drawing on studies, data and practical experience from across Europe.

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EPS and its contribution to circular, sustainable and durable ETICS

Jakub began by presenting the EPS value chain represented within EUMEPS: raw material suppliers, converters, recyclers, machinery suppliers and 23 national associations across Europe. He explained how EPS contributes simultaneously to the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainability.

On the social aspects, he underlined the direct impact of insulation on living conditions. EPS used in ETICS helps maintain stable indoor temperatures, reducing heat loss during winter and excessive overheating during summer. This leads to lower energy bills — often reduced by 30% to 50% — which is particularly relevant for older buildings and households facing energy poverty. A consistent indoor climate also reduces humidity and mould, improving public health and lowering healthcare costs. Jakub noted: “EPS helps reduce energy bills by 30% to 50% depending on the building, and it contributes to healthier indoor environments by preventing moisture and mould growth.”

On the economic dimension, EPS supports the renovation wave by offering a strong cost-to-thermal-performance ratio. Renovating Europe’s building stock stimulates local employment along the construction value chain and reduces energy consumption, strengthening national energy security. Data from EAE and Cortexa illustrated current trends: Italy, Poland, Romania and the Czech Republic remain the largest ETICS markets, and in 2024, EPS represented 77% of all ETICS insulation.

Environmentally, EPS offers several advantages. It is fully recyclable and compatible with mechanical, physical and chemical recycling technologies. Jakub presented evidence showing that the energy used to produce EPS is offset within approximately two years through energy savings during the lifecycle of the building. Studies also show that recycling can significantly reduce the global warming potential of EPS. Initiatives such as EPSolutely demonstrate practical solutions for reintegrating construction offcuts into production loops. Durability studies presented at the Forum confirmed that EPS maintains its mechanical properties even after decades of use, with examples of systems installed in the 1960s and 1970s still performing well today.

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Key messages from the Forum: perspectives from the EUMEPS team

The Forum offered a broad set of insights on regulatory developments, market dynamics and technical performance across Europe. The EUMEPS delegation highlighted several elements as particularly relevant.

For Emanuela Gallo, the attendance of more than 200 participants reinforced the high level of interest in ETICS as a strategic solution for energy renovation and decarbonisation. She emphasised the value of the data presented by EAE and Cortexa, which provided a clear picture of Europe’s building stock, market shares, national differences and renovation needs. She remarked on the intervention by EU Commissioner Dan Jørgensen, who outlined the EU’s approach to energy efficiency and renovation policies. As she explained: “The large number of participants shows how central ETICS is to renovation, decarbonisation and sustainability.”

Bianca Sereinig highlighted the practical strengths of the event design. The format offered sufficient time for discussions, exchanges with system suppliers and high-quality interactions with participants from several countries. She noted a strong alignment across the sector on common priorities: energy efficiency, decarbonisation, circularity and affordable housing. In her view, the Forum confirmed that industry actors share a similar understanding of how ETICS can support the transition. She noted: “There is a common understanding in the ETICS sector on energy efficiency, decarbonisation, circularity and affordable housing. It was encouraging to see high interest in these topics from all sides.”

For Jakub Stefaniak, one of the central elements was the diversity of stakeholders and the growing international interest in ETICS. Participants came from multiple sectors and several national administrations. He noted a particularly strong presence from Italy, reflecting the importance of ETICS in the country’s renovation programmes. He also observed that the EPBD remains a key topic for both industry and authorities: “More and more stakeholders are showing interest in insulation and renovation. The EPBD clearly remains a key topic for industry and authorities.”

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Looking ahead: expectations for the next edition

The next edition of the European ETICS Forum will take place in two years, with the EAE Awards planned for 2026 to showcase ETICS projects from across Europe. The EUMEPS team expressed a common set of expectations linked to the evolution of EU policies and national renovation strategies.

All three representatives emphasised the importance of EPBD implementation, which is currently entering the phase of national transposition. The coming years will be decisive for defining funding mechanisms, technical requirements and support schemes to accelerate renovation. Jakub expects the next Forum to provide “more insight into EPBD implementation, with a focus on solutions for successful delivery on the ground.”

Bianca hopes to see concrete progress in applying energy-efficiency principles and the emergence of good practices across Member States, especially regarding circularity and end-of-life management of materials. She stressed the relevance of ETICS in making renovation more affordable and accessible: “In two years, I hope we can already present some good practices in EPBD implementation and show concrete progress on efficiency-first with ETICS.”

Emanuela highlighted the value of maintaining the Forum as a platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing. She expects the next edition to keep its focus on decarbonisation, circularity, affordability and renovation policy, while providing an opportunity to compare national approaches and encourage cooperation across the sector. As she stated: “The next Forum will be an opportunity to observe how EPBD implementation advances across countries and to continue exchanges that support collaboration.”

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Conclusion

EUMEPS’s participation in the European ETICS Forum 2025 confirmed the strong relevance of EPS as a solution for circular, durable and efficient façade insulation. The event highlighted both the opportunities and challenges facing Europe’s renovation agenda, particularly in the context of EPBD implementation, decarbonisation objectives and housing affordability.

By engaging with policymakers, industry representatives and technical experts, EUMEPS contributed to a constructive exchange on how to accelerate renovation, strengthen circular practices and ensure long-term performance of ETICS systems. The next edition of the Forum will be an important moment to assess progress across Europe and continue building cooperation within the sector.

EPS Packaging: What Solutions are Being Considered for its Recycling?

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Written by: Ingrid

Category: News - Smart Packaging

Published: 12 January 2026

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• Links:
  • Link title: Read the original piece, Link URL: https://www.citeo.com/le-mag/emballages-en-pse-quelles-solutions-envisagees-pour-leur-recyclage/
  • Link title: Recycling EPS packaging, Link URL: https://eumeps.eu/topics-packaging/recycling-eps-packaging
  • Link title: Créa-Styr, recycling project supported by EUMEPS, Link URL: https://eumeps.eu/eumeps-newsroom-packaging/news/eumeps-and-elipso-launch-crea-styr-in-france
  • Link title: Citeo, Emballages ménagers et papier, Link URL: https://www.citeo.com/

This article was originally published in French by Citeo on 7 January 2026.

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Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is a lightweight, economical and resistant material used mainly to manufacture protective packaging components for household electrical appliances. It represents around 15,000 tonnes of household packaging per year in France, i.e. 15% of styrenic packaging placed on the market. Like all packaging materials, EPS must meet recyclability requirements by 2030, which represents a major challenge. What are the obstacles and the solutions being considered? We explain.

EPS packaging that is difficult to collect and capture

Less than 20% of EPS packaging is sorted by citizens via the yellow bin, despite the widespread communication about the opening of the yellow bin to all packaging, including all plastic packaging. This striking figure can be explained in part by the large size of protective packaging for household appliances (refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, etc.). The consequences are as follows:

• In the majority of cases, EPS packaging is not sorted, and is sometimes even left at the foot of bins and sorting containers.
• When it is sorted, this bulky packaging quickly fills the yellow bin and tends to fragment into small pieces, making it difficult to capture in sorting centres.
• Another practice also makes capture difficult: citizens do not systematically separate all the elements of the packaging or parcels they receive. Upon arrival at the sorting centre, large EPS protective elements are very frequently found nested inside large cardboard boxes. This prevents the recovery and therefore the recycling of both the EPS protective packaging and the cardboard.

Furthermore, at the end of the sorting process, EPS is often degraded and fragmented and has no dedicated outlet. Only mixed recycling solutions with other polystyrene packaging could be considered but, to date, recyclers accept EPS only in very low proportions (less than 5%).

A four-axis strategy towards reduction and circularity

The objective is clear: to enable EPS packaging to be genuinely recycled and to achieve a recycling rate of more than 50% in the medium term. To reach this objective, Citeo has adopted an action plan combining reduction and eco-design, as well as complementary collection schemes to the yellow bin, in order to enable dedicated EPS recycling.

Reduction and eco-design of packaging. Research focuses on improving the recyclability of plastic foams, reducing friability through design, and developing alternatives, notably based on fibrous materials. Examples include moulded cellulose protective packaging developed by AVEC and cellulose-based foams designed by the Technical Centre for Paper, which are compatible with the paper and cardboard packaging stream.

Roll-out of collection at waste recycling centres. This is a solution adapted to the large dimensions of EPS packaging. A trial launched in 2023 with 13 local authorities shows encouraging results: more than 600 tonnes collected across 200 waste recycling centres. Around 15% of French waste recycling centres are already equipped to collect EPS, a system that Citeo is calling to be rolled out more widely.

Take-back of packaging at delivery. This system makes it possible to collect EPS protective packaging directly at the time of delivery of equipment to consumers. Source separation preserves material quality and facilitates recycling. The pilot study conducted in 2024 with the main retailers confirms the relevance of this approach, which can build on the deployment of extended producer responsibility (EPR) for professional packaging from 2026.

Improvement of capture in sorting centres. Efforts to improve the overall capture performance in sorting centres are continuing, even if prospects for EPS remain limited. For EPS packaging that is captured, discussions with PS recyclers are ongoing in order to enable its effective recycling.

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The challenges associated with the recycling of expanded polystyrene packaging clearly highlight the need for coordinated action across the entire value chain, from eco-design and collection to sorting and recycling. While EPS presents specific technical and logistical constraints, the solutions outlined demonstrate that pragmatic and scalable pathways towards circularity are emerging.

In this context, EUMEPS, working in close cooperation with Citeo within the framework of CreaStyr, actively supports the development of innovative, technically robust and economically viable recycling solutions for polystyrene. By fostering dialogue between producers, recyclers, local authorities and technical experts, this collaboration aims to accelerate progress towards higher recycling rates, improved material quality and compliance with European recyclability objectives.

Advancing the circularity of EPS packaging will require continued investment, experimentation and collective commitment. EUMEPS remains fully engaged in contributing its expertise to help transform ambition into operational reality and ensure that polystyrene packaging can play a sustainable role in tomorrow’s circular economy.

EUMEPS Elects New Board of Directors and Appoints First Female President

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Written by: Ingrid

Category: Press releases

Published: 09 April 2025

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• Documents:
  • Document Name: Download our press release, Document File: 2025_PR_EUMEPS_new_Board_of_Directors.pdf
• Links:
  • Link title: Meet our Board members, Link URL: https://eumeps.eu/about-eumeps/our-structure

A diverse and committed team to guide the European EPS industry towards greater sustainability and circularity.

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The General Assembly of EUMEPS, the association representing the entire value chain of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) in Europe, has elected a new Board of Directors for the 2025–2027 term.

The newly appointed President is Agata Gładysz-Stańczyk (Synthos) – the first woman to hold this position since the creation of the association. She will work alongside three Vice-Presidents: Alan Moss (BEWI), Gregor Haverkemper (BASF) and Chresten Heide-Anderson (EPSbranchen, Denmark).

This year’s Board brings together experienced professionals from across Europe and reflects the diverse composition of the EPS value chain – from raw material suppliers and converters to recyclers and national associations.

It also sees three women elected, including two new members – Agata Gładysz-Stanczyk and Graziana Carianni (Versalis) – and the re-election of Serena Klein (IVH, Germany).

Agata Gładysz-Stańczyk, newly elected President of EUMEPS, commented: “It is an honour to take on the role of President of EUMEPS at a time when our industry is playing a pivotal role in Europe’s transition towards a circular economy. At Synthos, we have demonstrated that innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand — developing advanced insulation materials that both improve building performance and reduce environmental impact. I am confident that, by working together through EUMEPS, we can drive the widespread adoption of sustainable EPS solutions, enhancing energy efficiency in renovations and setting a solid foundation for long-term environmental benefits across Europe”

Jürgen Lang, Director General of EUMEPS, added: “The election of the new Board of Directors, under the leadership of Agata Gładysz-Stańczyk, marks a key milestone for EUMEPS. Over the next two years, our focus will be to elevate the profile of EPS in the European sustainability dialogue, highlighting its advantages in energy efficiency, affordability, and recyclability. We remain committed to working closely with EU policymakers, industry stakeholders and civil society to promote high-performance, circular solutions that support climate neutrality and drive the energy transition.

I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to Dr Klaus Ries and the outgoing Board of Directors for their dedication, trust and strategic guidance over the past years. Their leadership has enabled EUMEPS to grow stronger, more visible, and better equipped to represent the EPS value chain at the European level. We now build on this solid foundation with renewed energy and ambition.”

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Composition of the EUMEPS Board of Directors (2025–2027) 

President

• Agata Gładysz-Stańczyk (Synthos)

Vice-Presidents

• Alan Moss (BEWI)
• Gregor Haverkemper (BASF)
• Chresten Heide-Anderson (EPSbranchen, Denmark)

Directors (alphabetical order)

• Graziana Carianni (Versalis) – Recycler category
• Roman Eberstaller (Sunpor)
• Roland Hebbel (Steinbacher Dämmstoff)
• Markus Kraft (Hirsch Porozell)
• Dariusz Łazęcki (Termo Organika)
• Heimo Pascher (Austrotherm)
• Patrick Sutter (Knauf Industries)
• Serena Klein (IVH, Germany)