Expanded Polystyrene foam (EPS) was invented by a German scientist in 1949. A rigid but lightweight plastic foam, EPS is produced from solid beads of polystyrene. Expanded polyethylene (EPE) foam was produced about 20 years later. EPE foam features a closed-cell structure that makes it durable but softer and more flexible than EPS foam.
Both EPS and EPE’s applications range from protecting household items during shipping—such as furniture, glassware, and home decor—to insulation and beyond. These materials once served as a reliable solution for cushioning fragile items, but like anything, moderation is key. As online shopping exploded in popularity, so did the demand for excessive packaging to protect items during shipping. This surge in e-commerce led to a dramatic increase in the use of EPE and EPS, contributing to an even bigger problem—rising pollution and mounting waste in landfills and oceans.
The environmental costs associated with EPE and EPS foam are high. The disposal methods for these materials, including landfill, incineration, and recycling, each come with various challenges, adding to the urgent need for sustainable household packaging. For businesses shipping household goods, investing in green packaging solutions is an ethical and logistical choice that can advance packaging innovations and reshape the industry in a positive way.
Why Switching from EPE and EPS Is Crucial
EPE and EPS’s flexibility, strength, and protective properties have historically made them desirable in household goods packaging applications.
EPE and EPS foam are often used to create protective inserts that fit snugly around fragile or valuable items. They can also be molded to fit specific shapes, making them ideal for custom packaging around irregularly shaped or delicate products like high-end cutlery sets or decorative glass. Their lightweight and flexible properties make them desirable for shipping items more cheaply.
While EPE and EPS have earned a reputation for durability, this same property is a double-edged sword, and these foams are far from a sustainable choice. As a plastic product, their longevity contributes significantly to long-term environmental waste and pollution. These foams never fully break down naturally, but rather, they disintegrate into microplastics that typically end up in waterways and, eventually, we ingest them our bodies and the ocean.
Microplastic pollution has been linked to numerous environmental and human health issues. The amount of plastic trash flowing into the oceans yearly is expected to nearly triple by 2040 to 29 million metric tons.
“The rate at which we’re continuing to produce plastic is outpacing our ability to clean it up,” says John Felts, cofounder and CEO of Cruz Foam. “It’s like a bathtub overflowing. You don’t get a mop while the thing’s still going. You turn off the faucet.”
EPE/EPS Recycling Challenges
EPE and EPS foam packaging is commonly used once and often discarded shortly after use. Three main methods are used to dispose of this plastic waste: landfill, incineration, and recycling.
While technically EPE and EPS foams are recyclable, the process is far from routinely practiced. Only some forms of polystyrene and polyethylene can be recycled, and it’s costly. The primary process for recycling EPE and EPS foams is through hot melting. However, most local recycling plants aren’t equipped with adequate machinery. On top of that, recycled EPS can’t be used again in certain industries, defeating the purpose of recycling.
So, while recycling overcomes the limitations of landfill and incineration, it is generally costly, inefficient, and only applies to some EPE and EPS foams. This makes it extremely difficult for recycling to keep up with plastic foam production and prevent excessive EPE and EPS foam waste accumulation in the natural environment. Generally, this means EPE and EPS are sent to landfill because recycling is not seen as profitable or feasible.
Cruz Foam: A EPE and EPS Alternative for Sustainable Household Packaging
Cruz Foam is an innovative, sustainable packaging solution that upcycles food waste, diverting it from landfills to be made into a reliable and earth-digestible EPE and EPS replacement.
ASTM D6400 testing and real-world industrial compost testing show Cruz Foam disintegrating in just 8 weeks, resulting in a healthy enrichment material for the soil.
Cruz Foam offers household goods businesses several benefits as an EPE and EPS foam alternative, from environmental to performance, cost, and industry advantage.
For businesses looking to reduce their environmental impact, transitioning to Cruz Foam and other compostable alternatives is a tangible step toward responsible, sustainable household packaging practices.
Environmental Benefits
More than half of US consumers are highly concerned about the environmental impact of packaging.
Through advanced materials science and responsible sourcing, Cruz Foam provides a practical solution for sustainable household packaging. Fully compostable, Cruz Foam meets businesses’ goals for a sustainable packaging lifecycle while delivering performance similar to EPE and EPS foam.
By transitioning to Cruz Foam, businesses align with the growing consumer demand for eco-friendly options, contributing to a closed-loop lifecycle that supports sustainability at every stage. Fully compostable, Cruz Foam eliminates the need for industrial disposal processes that EPE and EPS require, thus reducing landfill accumulation and microplastic pollution.
Unlike EPE and EPS foam, which can take centuries to break down, Cruz Foam is earth-digestible and doesn’t release harmful substances into the environment. Cruz Foam helps businesses of all kinds set a new standard for sustainable household packaging practices.
Performance
Cruz Foam is sustainable and engineered to match traditional EPE and EPS foam’s protective strength and versatility. It covers a range of packaging applications and is customizable to safeguard fragile or irregularly shaped products during transit. Designed to withstand various shipping conditions, Cruz Foam maintains durability and insulation comparable to EPE and EPS, giving household goods brands the confidence to transition without sacrificing performance.
Brand Reputation
Switching from EPE and EPS foam to Cruz Foam can significantly boost brand awareness and reputation, as consumers today are more likely to support brands that demonstrate a commitment to environmental responsibility. Brands adopting a green EPE/EPS alternative can leverage potential long-term cost savings as demand for sustainable materials increases.
With growing consumer awareness of plastic waste and microplastic pollution, many customers now prefer biodegradable, compostable, or recyclable packaging. Using EPE and EPS foam in packaging may deter eco-conscious buyers, leading to potential negative brand views and decreased consumer trust.
Embracing Cruz Foam allows brands to send a strong message to their customers: sustainability is a core value, not just a marketing statement. By transitioning to sustainable household packaging, brands demonstrate a proactive stance on environmental issues, building trust and brand loyalty among increasingly eco-aware consumers.
Industry Advantage
According to a McKinsey survey, 60–70% of consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable packaging. In the US, about half of consumers are willing to pay a small premium for sustainability, with 25% willing to pay 4–7% more and 12% willing to pay 7–10% more.
Furthering sustainability in packaging doesn’t just affect single brands or products. As consumer demand for eco-friendly packaging grows, businesses can be at the forefront of an industry transformation. Once a few companies make the shift, larger companies will soon follow. Early supporters and adopters of sustainable materials set new standards and gain a competitive edge, positioning themselves as leaders in sustainability.
Companies can also set a precedent and attract like-minded partners, build customer loyalty, and help shape new iterations of sustainable packaging. As consumer influence grows, early adopters will likely see greater market share and loyalty from a consumer base eager to support environmentally aligned brands.
How Businesses Can Successfully Adopt Cruz Foam for Household Packaging
Cruz Foam’s innovative material sourcing and advanced design techniques allow companies to minimize the volume of materials used without compromising product protection and maintaining the desired aesthetic.
Because scaling up production is also a significant barrier to entry in the packaging industry, Cruz Foam helps businesses with adoption by utilizing the industry’s existing infrastructure, serving as a one-to-one replacement for EPE and EPS.
In recent years, sustainable packaging’s advancements in both form and function have opened up new opportunities for companies like Studio Abachar, Tempest Weathering Device, Alibi Interiors, Johi Interiors, Kitchen Cabinet Distributors, The Woodress and more!
Achieve Sustainable Operations and Drive Industry Impact with Cruz Foam
The packaging value chain must rapidly adapt to a changing market. The environmental impact of EPE and EPS foams, growing consumer demand for sustainability, regulatory pressures, and the availability of high-performance alternatives like Cruz Foam are all driving industries to reconsider their packaging choices.
While the plastics industry continues to tout EPE and EPS as sustainable and recyclable, current recycling numbers reveal otherwise. Moving away from EPE and EPS foam packaging for household goods aligns companies with evolving environmental standards and consumer expectations, setting them up for a more sustainable and responsible future.
Adopting sustainable household product packaging benefits both the planet and the business. Cruz Foam is a viable, high-performing alternative to conventional EPE and EPS foam packaging for businesses aiming to diminish their environmental footprint and appeal to eco-conscious consumers. It offers various advantages, from environmental impact reduction to brand enhancement and industry positioning.
Contact Cruz Foam today to get started with sustainable packaging solutions.
