Vartdal Plast, a Norwegian plastics manufacturer based in Volda, has established a scaled EPS recovery system by integrating its regional vehicle network with a new onsite recycling plant. The initiative redefines how expanded polystyrene (EPS) packaging is handled in Møre og Romsdal by converting it from waste into reusable feedstock.
Systems Integration from Collection to Processing
Vartdal Plast leverages a logistics network of approximately 70 trucks to collect EPS across several municipalities. This pre-existing framework ensures efficient retrieval of material from retailers, wholesalers, and other local sources devoid of new logistical overheads. Once collected, the material is brought to Vartdal’s facility, where it undergoes compression and melting into compact blocks of polystyrene .
The onsite operation combines a dedicated press with a melt process—enabling direct transformation of bulky foam into a high-density output that is more cost-effective to store and ship. This “industrial circular” setup embeds closed‑loop logic by keeping both collection and reprocessing within the same regional ecosystem.
Strategic Relevance for Nordic EPS Circularity
This case marks a significant step in Norway’s circular material strategy. By combining existing collection infrastructure with new processing capabilities, Vartdal Plast demonstrates how EPS packaging can be retained within industrial value chains rather than treated as waste. The approach avoids increased transportation costs and carbon emissions associated with sending material to distant recycling installations.
Moreover, operating within a regional network enables traceability, quality control, and economies of scale. It illustrates a scalable system that others in the Nordic region could replicate—especially where local EPS streams are predictable and transport grids strong.
Fact Box
| Item | Value |
| Location | Volda / Møre og Romsdal, Norway |
| Collection fleet | ~70 trucks servicing both municipalities and businesses |
| Processing facility | EPS press + melting/compression plant onsite |
| Output material | Dense polystyrene blocks suitable for downstream recycling |
| System model | Integrated regional collection and onsite densification + melting |
| Strategic insight | Leverages existing logistics; establishes closed-loop EPS recovery |
Conclusion
Vartdal Plast’s EPS system exemplifies how industrial sites can serve as circular hubs—combining collection, densification, and material transformation under one coordinated model. It brings added value and resilience by keeping EPS packaging within regional supply chains and institutional capacity. The initiative reinforces NEPSA’s focus on infrastructure-aligned circular resource systems relying on traceable, industrial-scale practices.
Source: “Emballasjen er et stort miljøproblem. Norsk plastbedrift vil gjøre det til sirkulær industri,” Teknisk Ukeblad, 22 March 2021 (Tu.no)
