Characteristics of EPP:

• Lightweight: EPP is lightweight, making it easy to handle and transport. This also makes it ideal for use in products that need to be lightweight but still sturdy, such as packaging and protective casings.
• Impact resistance: EPP has excellent impact resistance, making it ideal for use in products that need to withstand shock and impact, such as packaging for fragile items and automotive components.
• Thermal insulation: EPP has good thermal insulation properties, making it ideal for use in products that need to maintain a consistent temperature, such as refrigerated containers and insulation for hot water tanks.
• Durability: EPP is durable and resistant to tearing, making it ideal for use in products that need to withstand wear and tear, such as protective packaging and automotive components.
• Recyclable: EPP is recyclable, making it an environmentally friendly material choice.

Disadvantages of EPP:

• Processing: EPP is more difficult to process than other types of plastic, making it more expensive to produce.
• Recycling: EPP is not widely recycled, as it is difficult to recycle due to its foam structure and the presence of additives and colorants.
• Cost: EPP is more expensive than other types of plastic, due to its high processing cost and low recycling rate.

Recycling solutions for EPP:

• Mechanical recycling: EPP can be mechanically recycled by shredding it into small pieces, which can then be melted down and molded into new products. This process requires specialized equipment and can only be performed a limited number of times due to the loss of material properties with each cycle.
• Downcycling: EPP can be downcycled into lower-value products, such as building insulation or filler material.
• Energy recovery: EPP can be burned as fuel to generate energy, although this is not a preferred solution due to the release of harmful emissions.
• Overall, while EPP has a number of disadvantages, including a high processing cost, low recycling rate, and difficulty in recycling, there are solutions to these challenges, such as mechanical recycling and downcycling. However, more research and development is needed to make EPP recycling more efficient and cost-effective, and to find new applications for recycled EPP material.