Success Stories

Two new business cases present data, independent research, and case studies demonstrating recyclability, growing infrastructure, and strong end markets.

May 20, 2026

Washington, D.C. — The Polystyrene Recycling Alliance (PSRA), a leading North American coalition advancing innovative polystyrene recycling solutions, today released two comprehensive business cases supporting the reclassification of expanded polystyrene (EPS) transport packaging and rigid polystyrene (PS) packaging under the U.S. Plastics Pact’s materials evaluation framework, and for accelerating the collaborative, circularity-driven approach that both materials already support.

The business cases draw on independent analysis by Resource Recycling Systems (RRS), third-party research, and real-world case studies to demonstrate that both materials are recyclable today, backed by growing infrastructure, expanding end markets, and continued industry investment.

“Polystyrene is a valuable, recyclable resource with a clear pathway to circularity, and plays a critical role in the emerging circular economy for plastics,” said Justin Riney, Chair of the Polystyrene Recycling Alliance. “The focus should be on scaling solutions and investing in the systems that are already working. That’s exactly what these business cases are designed to support.”

EPS Transport Packaging: Recyclable at Scale

The first business case addresses EPS transport packaging—widely used for appliances, pharmaceuticals, and cold-chain logistics—and demonstrates meaningful, existing recycling infrastructure.

EPS transport packaging has achieved a recycling rate of approximately 31% in North America, according to a study conducted by the EPS Industry Alliance and is supported by a growing nationwide network of more than 700 drop-off locations and well-established business-to-business (B2B) recovery systems. Because it is primarily recovered through commercial and drop-off channels rather than curbside collection, EPS transport

packaging avoids contaminating mixed recycling streams—operating within a dedicated, functioning circular system.

End markets for recycled EPS are robust and growing. Independent analysis by RRS identified 81 companies operating 119 facilities across the United States and Canada that use recycled EPS as a manufacturing feedstock, producing everything from EPS transport packaging to construction materials. Global organizations including the United Nations Environment Programme and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation recognize EPS transport packaging as recyclable in practice and at scale in certain regions.

The material is also compatible with multiple recycling pathways—mechanical, dissolution (physical), and chemical—making it a versatile feedstock for circular applications.

A Strong Case for Rigid Polystyrene Circularity

The second business case highlights rigid polystyrene packaging: yogurt cups, produce containers, bakery clamshells, foodservice items, and protective retail packaging, that are already collected, sorted, and recycled in communities across the United States.

An estimated 25–28% of the U.S. population, up to approximately 100 million Americans, currently have access to recycling infrastructure covering at least one rigid polystyrene format, according to RRS, placing it within the “check locally” category for recyclability. RRS also identified 45 companies operating 50 facilities across the United States and Canada using recycled rigid polystyrene as feedstock for consumer goods, packaging, and building materials.

Like EPS, rigid polystyrene is compatible with mechanical, dissolution (physical), and chemical recycling technologies, each capable of producing high-quality, food-grade outputs. The business case further notes that rigid polystyrene does not disrupt recycling systems, is easily sortable in modern material recovery facilities, and represents a small share of the overall waste stream.

Environmental Performance and Regulatory Safety

Polystyrene is safe and has been approved for food-contact use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for decades, with both the FDA and the European Food Safety Authority concluding that use of polystyrene products poses no risk to consumers. Styrene, the liquid monomer used to produce polystyrene, occurs naturally in foods such as

strawberries, cinnamon, coffee, peanuts, and beef; polystyrene itself is the stable, inert solid formed through polymerization.

Polystyrene or EPS packaging, which is comprised of 95–98% air, often has lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions than heavier alternatives, especially in transport applications where weight efficiency, product protection, and food waste prevention are important climate factors. Replacing it with less efficient materials can increase emissions, packaging volume, and product damage, potentially undermining the environmental goals of elimination policies.

Building Shared Circularity Goals

The PSRA supports the U.S. Plastics Pact’s commitment to advancing a circular economy for plastics and sees these business cases as a contribution to that shared mission. The findings align with global frameworks that have focused on improving recovery systems and scaling recycling infrastructure as the path to meaningful circularity. The evidence presented makes a strong case that both materials are ready for reclassification from the “problematic and unnecessary” designation.

PSRA looks forward to collaborating with the Pact and stakeholders across the value chain to:

· Expand investment in collection and recycling infrastructure

· Increase transparency and connectivity across end markets

· Advance innovation in recycling technologies

· Deepen cross-sector collaboration among industry, policymakers, and NGOs

“Rigid polystyrene and EPS transport packaging have the technology, the end markets, and the momentum to succeed,” continued Riney. “These business cases reflect our commitment to building on that progress.”

The release of these business cases represents PSRA’s continued investment in a data-driven, solutions-oriented approach to polystyrene circularity — and an open invitation to partners across the value chain to accelerate what’s already working.

Access the Business Cases

EPS Transport Packaging Business Case

Rigid Polystyrene Business Case

About the Polystyrene Recycling Alliance (PSRA)

The Polystyrene Recycling Alliance (PSRA) unites the entire polystyrene (PS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) value chain to promote circularity for polystyrene products across North America. PSRA is a self-funded initiative of the PLASTICS Industry Association.

Learn more at www.PSRecycling.org