To objectively assess theimpact of any material in the environment, one must seek and stick to objective data and research and go beyond common perception, which can sometimes be influenced by appearances. The case of expanded polystyrene is precisely a current example of how a distorted perception of reality has completely obliterated common awareness of the actual need for the use of this material in daily life and thus its benefits.
For example, how does our television made in China arrive intact on the other side of the world with only 100 gr of EPS to protect it? How do the vegetables we eat every day stay fresh for so long from when they are harvested to when we cook them? How do the seeds of seedlings and fruits and vegetables grow steadily despite constant and unpredictable weather variations? How does the fish our favorite restaurant serves us arrive fresh on our plate? What is the material that saves us money on our monthly utility bills because of its highly efficient insulation?
The answer to all these questions is:EPS, a friend to the environment and our habits, so it is important to shed light on its environmental impact. Below are analyses done by specialized bodies to assess its environmental impact and specifically its water footprint (Water Footprint) compared between different packaging materials and recyclability.
Thewater footprint measures the amount of water required to produce each and every product or service we use on a daily basis.This tool can be used to measure the amount of water consumed by a single person, a product, a service, a process, a manufacturing plant up to an entire nation. The water footprint is globally verifiable and comparable through an indicator characterized by the volumes of freshwater consumed directly or indirectly by the item chosen as the object of measurement. Specifically, these three parameters are considered:
Green Water Footprint represents the amount of water derived from precipitation, collected in roots and evaporated, transpired or incorporated by plants. It is especially relevant in agriculture, horticulture and forest-derived products.
Blue Water Footprint representsgroundwater that is incorporated into the product but still does not return, downstream of the production process, to the source from which it came. Irrigation, industry and domestic water use are the main users of this share of water.
Grey Water Footprint represents theamount of polluted water quantified by calculating the volume of water required to dilute pollutants, returning the concentration to the natural levels of the receiving body within which it is released
The graph below shows how expanded polystyrene compared with its major competitor cardboard is in this respect much better performing and environmentally friendly.
The winner is: expanded polystyrene--with only 6 liters of water per kg of material used
Source: AIPE Italian EPS Manufacturers Association
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