A group of Spanish plastics companies have received a LIFE grant from the European Union for a €1.5 million project to turn used polystyrene fish containers into new food contact packaging.   

Anape, Coexpan, Cicloplast, El Corte Inglés and Total Petrochemicals have joined the EPS SURE project, coordinated by Cicloplast, running from July 2017 – 2020.

Expanded polystyrene, or Airpop boxes, are used to package and display fish, as the insulating properties keep it fresh. Unfortunately, many of the boxes end up in European landfills.

LIFE airpop recycling

A pilot plant in the facilities of Total Petrochemials at El Prat de Llobregat, near Barcelona, will demonstrate that it is possible to manufacture recycled polystyrene with suitable quality to satisfy the high demanding requirements for applications in food contact packs.

Teresa Martínez, the General Manager of Cicloplast, the Project coordinator, said: “The project is a clear example of the true Circular Economy of Plastics, converting plastic waste into a new resource, showing a specific application with high added value for a waste that is currently being deposit in landfills.”

Raquel López, Director of ANAPE, said: “EPS fish boxes are 100 per cent recyclable, but in the commercial stream, they are not reused properly due to the difficulty of transporting them. This project will demonstrate that there are final applications with a high added value that will make the management of this waste profitable and its results will be the key to accelerate the increase in recycling.”