“As part of its ongoing review of the Problematic & Unnecessary Materials List, the U.S. Plastics Pact is removing Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Transport Packaging from the list. After carefully reviewing the available data and supporting information, the USPP working group (or “Workstream”) tasked with evaluating the list determined that evidence indicates that this specific packaging format has achieved a recycling rate of approximately 30% or higher, meeting the threshold established under Criterion One of USPP’s Decision Tree for evaluating materials on the list.
This decision applies only to EPS Transport Packaging—not EPS or polystyrene broadly. EPS Transport Packaging moves through the system differently than many other EPS products. Much of it remains within commercial distribution channels or accompanies products delivered to consumers, creating opportunities for collection and aggregation outside of traditional municipal curbside recycling programs. A full definition is included in our Problematic & Unnecessary Materials Report. This announcement represents one step in a broader review that remains underway. The workstream continues to evaluate other materials on the list and will make additional recommendations as those reviews are completed.
This update reflects how USPP’s Problematic & Unnecessary Materials process is intended to work. The list provides a framework for identifying packaging materials that present significant challenges, while allowing them to be reassessed as systems, markets, and outcomes change.
The progress demonstrated by the EPS Transport Packaging industry is encouraging and highlights several approaches that can help advance circularity in other material categories. Building strong end markets through greater use of postconsumer recycled content can create incentives for collection and recycling. Investing in infrastructure that addresses material-specific barriers—such as densification to make EPS transportation more efficient—can help improve collection economics. And consistent data collection and measurement are essential to tracking progress, understanding what is working, and identifying where additional interventions are needed.
There is still more work to do to further increase recycling rates for EPS Transport Packaging, but this progress demonstrates that focused interventions can change outcomes. We encourage continued collaboration among suppliers, users and recyclers to build on and scale strategies that have proven successful.”