European EPS Update |
EPS News Interview – Lewis Patterson, Beach Services, Bournemouth PS - EPS Starring role in Christmas Panto
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Last year the European Manufacturers of Expanded Polystyrene (EUMEPS) commissioned PriceWaterhouseCoopers/ Ecobilan to conduct a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) used in the industrial packaging sector. The LCA looked at the packaging for a 25" TV set consisting of the EPS, the cardboard box and the LDPE film. It discovered that the 'majority of the impacts are coming from the various processes involved in the manufacture, processing and end of life of cardboard.' "The packaging for this TV set is tried and tested and it is the best option to protect this valuable product on its journey from the factory floor to the customer's home," comments Andrew Barnetson, Environmental Affairs Manager, EPS Packaging Group. "We do not wish to attack any of the materials in this packaging; rather to demonstrate that, contrary to common perception, the environmental impact of the EPS element in the packaging is not as damaging as some might suspect." Another interesting nugget from the study is that it showed that the annual per capita usage of EPS in Europe is equivalent to just 0.6 litres of crude oil. This amount of crude oil represents one car journey of just five miles. An external critical review by an independent LCA expert declared it: "a well-executed, professional LCA fulfilling the objectives of the work and presented in a lucid and exemplary manner". "Life Cycle Assessments are complex and technical documents that make accurate measures of all the processes involved with a product from cradle-to-grave," says Andrew Barnetson. "For LCA professionals they provide a wealth of information and it is this that gives LCAs their significance and usefulness. "It is vital that all LCAs are open to scrutiny and I am pleased to say if anyone would like to view this latest LCA, a 142-page report and a shorter seven-page summary have been produced and are available for scrutiny by any interested parties." Andrew Barnetson can be contacted on |
"It showed that the annual per capita usage of EPS in Europe is equivalent to just 0.6 litres |
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