WHAT IS POLYSTYRENE PLASTIC PACKAGING
Polystyrene (PS) plastic is widely used in food service packaging. It's lightweight and rigid enough to hold wet and dry food items. In today's packaging world, it's still the go-to material for leak-proof lids, particularly for takeaway coffee, in the high-impact polystyrene format.
Viro Solutions does not sell traditional polystyrene packaging, such as GPPS or EPS plastic packaging. There's a clear trend toward moving away from these materials, with modern alternatives delivering comparable performance and improved sustainability.
POLYSTYRENE PLASTIC RECYCLABILITY
Polystyrene is a Class 6 material. Recyclability is determined by local acceptance and the condition of the material at disposal. Ideally, it should be clean, dry, and free of food contamination before recycling. The material can be recycled once it reaches a recycler, but the big problem is getting enough clean polystyrene to a recycler in the first place. Transport and storage are expensive because foam must be compacted for transport.
POLYSTYRENE PLASTIC ECO-FRIENDLINESS
PS plastic does not degrade easily and can persist in the environment. In reality, polystyrene becomes litter that lingers and breaks down into smaller pieces over time. Litter and microplastics pose a serious threat. When it's mismanaged, it contributes to plastic pollution and microplastics that can move through ecosystems and the food chain.
Despite this, PS recycling has improved, with eWASA reporting a 31% polystyrene recycling rate for 2022/23 and noting that this enables PS to be classified as recyclable in SA, with infrastructure and end markets developing.
OUR COMMITMENT TO LOOP CERTIFIED PRODUCTS
At Viro, we have created product standards and certifications to mandate local production, circular design for recyclability, and minimum levels of post-consumer recycled content. Our Loop Certified initiative underscores our dedication to sustainability and circularity in packaging solutions.
ADD TRANSPARENCY TO YOUR PACKAGING WITH QR
At Viro Solutions, we believe in complete transparency and sustainability. That’s why we’ve created the Digital Product Passport - an innovative platform that transforms how you interact with packaging
