Action Theme: Theme A: Actions to reduce land-based sources of marine litter
Action number: A.4.2
Action Title: Reduce the impact of expanded polystyrene and extruded polystyrene (EPS / XPS) in the marine environment
Lead Party(ies): Portugal with support from Denmark and Sweden
Link to other actions: Action 49: Expanded polystyrene
Image: ©Shutterstock
What is the issue?
Plastic foam products made of expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS) are amongst the top 10 items of marine litter found on European beach litter surveys.
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) and Extruded polystyrene (XPS) are used globally in the composition of several products, such as fish and sea-food boxes, hot drinks cups, single-use food boxes and trays, packaging of electronic appliances and other fragile or temperature sensitive products, insulation for buildings, floating structures in the sea, amongst other uses.
What has OSPAR done?
This action will draw on outputs of the OceanWise project, funded by INTERREG Atlantic Area by France, Portugal, Ireland, Spain and the UK. The project aims to look at how to prevent EPS and EXS entering the marine environment and how it can be kept within the system (circular economy).
This OSPAR action will recommend the adoption of national and international policies and best practices for the industry which highlight the relevance of taking into account the risk to the marine environment of certain plastics in the context of their specific applications. The recommendations will contribute to improving the transition to circular economy.
