Styrenic polymers contribute to the sustainability, energy efficiency, and durability of our buildings. Polystyrene (PS) and Polystyrene foam panels (EPS and XPS) are thermally insulative leading to a significant reduction in CO2 emission when installed in buildings. A case study, presented in a socio-economic analysis of styrenic polymers conducted by Wood1 of a 618 m2 apartment building in Vienna showed that installing styrenics insulation can reduce heat demand by 95%, saving about 27 tonnes of CO2 emissions and some €7,000 of heating costs per year.

Styrenic-based products are also proven to have a lower life-cycle environmental footprint than other construction and insulation materials. For instance, EPS consumes less energy and produces fewer greenhouse gases during its production than other insulation products2. It also has the most favorable life cycle environmental footprint for insulation panels for exterior walls and flat roofs when recycled at the end of life3

Styrenic polymers are not only excellent insulation materials enabling energy savings and emissions reduction, they are also long-lasting and resistant to mould, improving the lifetime of buildings and reducing the overall quantity of resources required in the construction sector. For instance, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) thanks to its high durability, mechanical strength, and chemical resistance, enables the production of long-lasting drainage and ventilation piping.


1 Wood Group UK Limited, Socio-economic analysis of styrene-based food contact materials, commissioned by Plastics Europe, December 2021. Report available upon request

2 PlasticsEurope (n.d.). Polystyrene Insulation and Climate Change. Report available here

3 Joachim Reinhardt, Corvin Veith, Julia Lempik, Florian Knappe, Peter Mellwig, Jürgen Giegrich, Nadine Muchow (ifeu) Thomas Schmitz, Ilka Voß (2019). Ganzheitliche Bewertung von verschiedenen Dämmstoffalternativen. Endbericht. Report available here