Economical, eco-friendly polystyrene alternative in development

When incinerated, expanded polystyrene (EPS) leaves behind just carbon dioxide and water. However, when incineration is incomplete, harmful compounds are created. While the material is recyclable, it often ends up in landfill or is combusted.

The VTT Technical Research Centre in Finland is working to develop an affordable and environmentally friendly alternative for polystyrene from PLA (polylactide) bioplastic, which is derived from organic sources.

PLA is a bioplastic made from renewable materials with the help of lactic acid. VTT is investigating methods of foaming bioplastics to make beads that can be further refined into products such as insulation sheets using methods typical of EPS manufacturing processes.

Carbon dioxide is used to expand the bioplastic, creating a biomaterial that has similar density and heat insulation properties to polystyrene. While PLA products similar to polystyrene already exist, they are very expensive. VTT is hoping to collaborate with industry partners to develop this cheaper polystyrene alternative.

The research centre is also developing a process for PLA based on extrusion foaming to replace polystyrene in traffic and packaging applications.