What’s inside the Box

In this article, we would like to expand on one of the world’s latest and most innovative recycling methods that Gourmet Meals are proud to take part in, Expanded Polystyrene or EPS recycling. EPS is 98% air, making it one of the lightest materials available for both packaging and building/construction applications.

Here’s how Gourmet Meals plays a role in this process. Upon placing a delivery order with us, you can opt to receive your meals, snap frozen and packed in polystyrene iceboxes. The product used to deliver your meals is Expanded Polystyrene or EPS. We work with an innovative company called Polyfoam Australia who are dedicated to reducing any environmental impact from their packaging. EPS consists of approximately 98% air and only 2% polystyrene, making it lightweight, and, it is made from styrene which is a by-product of crude oil extraction.

The manufacturing process for EPS does not require the use of CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons), and so does not affect the Ozone Layer with harmful by-products, deeming it a very viable option for us to use as an environmentally friendly packaging material. EPS is 100% recyclable and during 2009/2010 over 3000 tonnes of EPS was recycled in Australia reducing precious landfill space.

The most interesting aspect to Polyfoam Australia’s services is that they don’t just supply the packaging, they also recycle it. What if we told you your polystyrene ice boxes would one day be the slabs holding building infrastructure together? Would you believe us? 

Well, it’s true! Polyfoam Australia picks up our old un-usable boxes and recycles them into building waffle pods that are used in slabs for building construction at their facility in Tingalpa. Using waffle pods also means less concrete is required, they are stronger than concrete and much more energy efficient. As Polystyrene is 98% air, it’s very easy to recycle without the use of any chemicals. It gets blended and mixed up to a very fine material in a granulator, then it is transformed into molten logs and turned into waffle pods. Fascinating!

So next time you place an order with Gourmet Meals, not only are you getting delicious and nutritious home-style meals delivered, but you are a part of something much bigger – creating a sustainable environment. New and improved building materials and recycling innovation, now that’s something to talk about! 

Please see the links below for more information on our packaging products and how they are recycled: 

http://epsa.org.au/

http://epsa.org.au/about-eps/what-is-eps/

http://epsa.org.au/sustainability/

http://epsa.org.au/where-can-i-recycle-eps/