EPS Recycling: Think Green, Use White EPS

At FMI-EPS, we believe that packaging and insulation shouldn’t cost the earth. With over 30 years of experience, we’ve built sustainability into everything we do. From design to delivery and beyond, we are committed to reducing waste, promoting recycling, and giving EPS a new life.

• Strong Recycling Rates: In North America in 2022, over 168 million pounds of EPS transport packaging were diverted from landfills — representing a 31% recycling rate.
   
• Stable Thermal Performance: EPS insulation maintains its R-value over time, with no long-term loss of insulation efficiency.
   
• Lower Environmental Impact: EPS is mostly air (≈ 98%), so it has low embodied energy. Recycling EPS also saves energy compared to making new material from virgin resin.
   

“Think Green…Use White EPS” isn’t just a slogan — it's what we do:

• We recycle excess and scrap EPS from our manufacturing process. These are ground and re-used immediately in new EPS products.
   
• FORMPak production waste is re-processed into small bead form — great for old bean bag filling.
   
• We convert recycled FORMPak into packaging cubes (½″ × ½″ × 1″) to use as loose fill.
   
• We also recycle EPS into filling and insulating concrete masonry blocks.
   

These broader efforts give context to our work:

• Alternative recycling channels (like business-to-business systems) are driving the majority of EPS recycling, not just curbside programs.
   
• The EPS industry has invested over $185 million in recycled-content resin technologies. Operational capacity is increasing and more recycled EPS infrastructure is in development.
   
• EPS recycling is well established and consistently maintains one of the highest recycling rates among all plastics. 

 What You Can Do

• Specify recycled EPS in your packaging and insulation requirements.
   
• Collect your EPS scrap and forward it to drop-off or recycling channels.
   
• Choose EPS that uses recycled content — it supports industry demand which helps grow recycling infrastructure.
   
• Use EPSIA’s recycling map to find drop-off collection points near you. 
• Including our Locations:
• 9456 N McGuire Rd Post Falls, ID 83854
• 280 Rose St Jerome, ID 83338
   

FMI-EPS is committed to providing you products with the highest quality while minimizing environmental impact. Because sustainability isn’t just good business — it’s our responsibility. Thank you to all our partners — designers, distributors, purchasing managers — who support recycled EPS and a greener future.