Category: News

The Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) has released new guidelines for the responsible handling of expanded (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS) on construction and demolition sites. The recommendations provide practical, real-world guidance to prevent material losses, reduce environmental emissions, and strengthen circularity across the building sector. What the guidelines offer The document answers key operational questions that

The Nordic EPS Alliance is pleased to invite members across the Nordic EPS associations to our annual Christmas gathering, taking place in Oslo on 3–4 December 2025. This is a unique opportunity to convene, exchange perspectives on regulatory and industry developments, and strengthen collaboration across the region. Program Overview Evening of 3 December: Joint DinnerAt

A new factsheet from NEPSA and EUMEPS highlights the findings of a 2025 lifecycle study by the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO). The study compared four packaging types—EPS, EPP, corrugated cardboard, and moulded pulp—used for transporting televisions and washing machines across Europe. The results show that packaging must be evaluated on its ability

When making decisions, our brains rely on two complementary systems. Psychologists call them System 1 (fast, automatic, intuitive) and System 2 (slow, effortful, analytical). Both are essential. But when important choices are made too quickly, System 1 can lead us to draw misleading conclusions. In a recent issue of his Beyond Fast and Easy Answers

A new lifecycle assessment (LCA) by RDC Environment (2025) provides comprehensive evidence on the environmental performance of fish box systems used in chilled seafood transport. The study compares three formats — single-use expanded polystyrene (EPS), laminated cardboard, and reusable plastic boxes — using standardised ISO 14040/44 and PEF-compliant methods. The functional unit is defined as

As the INC-5.2 plastics treaty talks unfold in Geneva, a striking inconsistency emerges in public reasoning: we assign very different responsibility depending on the material, even when the real-world harm is similar. We trace this shift to our fast emotional thinking (System 1)—which is drawn to dramatic material effects and narrative villains. But such inconsistent

From 5 to 14 August, negotiators meet in Geneva to resume the fifth and final round of UN treaty negotiations on plastic pollution. NEPSA is present as part of the Global EPS Sustainability Alliance (GESA), contributing to discussions on how circularity, responsibility, and material performance are reflected in the future global framework. Delegation and context

The Nordic Expanded Polystyrene Alliance (NEPSA) has launched an open-access library of editorially verified case studies documenting how expanded polystyrene (EPS) is being recycled and reused in practice. The initiative is designed not only to provide transparency—but to inspire replication, collaboration, and system improvement. With over 50 cases at launch—and more added on a rolling