EPS traces its origins back to the early 1930s, when German chemist Hermann Staudinger discovered the polymerization process for polystyrene. This breakthrough paved the way for the development of expanded polystyrene materials.

In 1949, Dr. Fritz Stastny, working for BASF, developed the first expandable polystyrene (EPS) beads. This innovation led to the commercialization of Styropor®, the first trademarked EPS product.

EPS production expanded globally as industries recognized its lightweight, shock-absorbing, and thermal insulation properties. It quickly became the preferred material for protective packaging, food containers, and insulation panels.

EPS use in construction skyrocketed, particularly in thermal insulation, lightweight concrete, and building foundations. As consumption increased, industries also started exploring recycling methods to manage EPS waste efficiently.

With growing environmental concerns, the EPS industry focused on sustainability by developing new recycling technologies. Compactors, balers, and advanced reprocessing techniques allowed used EPS to be transformed into rGPPS (recycled general purpose polystyrene) for reuse.

Companies like BEWI Circular | UseReuse have fully integrated EPS recycling into their business model, ensuring that used EPS is collected, reprocessed, and reintroduced into new applications. BEWI is also investing in low-carbon EPS, bio-based alternatives, and new technologies to further close the loop and reduce the environmental impact of EPS.