Food packaging
Dairy cups and drinking cups.
AI
Polystyrene (PS)
Polystyrene is an amorphous thermoplastic – as general purpose polystyrene (GPPS) clear, hard and brittle, as high impact polystyrene (HIPS) with polybutadiene rubber opaque or translucent, and foamed as EPS or XPS.
PS at a glance
Guide values from manufacturer data sheets and technical literature. They vary by grade, additives and manufacturer – the data sheet of the individual material is decisive. The identification number under Decision 97/129/EC is a voluntary identification system for packaging materials.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Repeating unit | –[CH₂–CH(C₆H₅)]– |
| Identification number (Decision 97/129/EC) | 6 PS |
| Density | GPPS approx. 1.05 g/cm³ |
| Glass transition temperature | around 100 °C |
| Structure | atactic, amorphous |
| Typical processing | extrusion (films and sheets for thermoforming), injection moulding, foaming (EPS, XPS) |
| Properties | GPPS clear, hard, brittle; HIPS impact-modified with polybutadiene rubber, opaque or translucent |
Typical applications of PS
Insulation
Thermal insulation made of EPS and XPS; EPS is 98 % air.
EPS packaging
Packaging made of expanded polystyrene (EPS).
Appliances and electronics
Parts of household appliances and electronics.
Laboratory ware
Petri dishes and test tubes.
Helmets
EPS as shock-absorbing layer in helmets.
Recycling of PS
- HBCDD in insulation: The flame retardant HBCDD is a persistent organic pollutant (POP Regulation (EU) 2019/1021). Since 17 October 2024, a limit of 75 mg/kg applies as an unintentional trace contaminant in substances, mixtures and articles; for recycled PS in EPS and XPS building insulation, 100 mg/kg continues to apply. For waste, the Annex IV limit is 500 mg/kg.
- Depolymerisation: Polystyrene can be chemically converted back into its monomer, styrene. In Antwerp, Indaver inaugurated a plant for this in September 2025; the recovered styrene is supplied to INEOS Styrolution.
- Recycled content in packaging: The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (PPWR) has applied since 12 August 2026. Its Article 7 sets minimum shares of post-consumer recyclate in the plastic part of packaging, calculated per manufacturing plant and year: from 1 January 2030 (or three years after the implementing act on the calculation method, whichever is later) 10 % for contact-sensitive packaging made of plastics other than PET and 35 % for other plastic packaging; from 2040, 25 % and 65 % respectively.
PS recyclates with plastship
plastship is a distributor of recycled plastics. The starting point of every sourcing project is not the material – but your application.
Recyclate supply
We clarify processing, product specification, acceptable variations and regulatory requirements, and on that basis define suitable recyclate qualities, feedstocks and supply concepts.
Laboratory services
Physical, mechanical and optical testing, odour and polymer composition – including melt flow rate (MFR), density, moisture and ash content, tensile testing, Charpy impact strength and the identification of foreign polymers.
Material quality
A structured evaluation makes recyclate quality transparent – as a basis for decisions in application, sourcing and compliance.
plastship Monitored Materials
Quality scoring on a scale from 0 to 10 points across mechanics, optics, odour and polymer purity – with material benchmark and certificate of quality.
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More polymers
Polyethylene (PE)
Semi-crystalline polyolefin for films, bottles, crates and pipes.
Polypropylene (PP)
Chemical-resistant polyolefin for packaging, fibres and moulded parts.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Durable thermoplastic for profiles, pipes, flooring and cables.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
Polyester for beverage bottles, packaging, films and fibres.
Polyamide 6 (PA 6)
Engineering plastic for moulded parts, films, fibres and monofilaments.
All polymers
The six polymer pages at a glance.