Altor program boosts EPS recycling

St. Louis-based Altor Solutions, a provider of cold chain and protective packaging says it diverted more than 1 million pounds (500 tons) of expanded polystyrene (EPS) plastic from landfills in 2025.

The company says that figure was reached thanks to a EPS recycling partnerships with customers, convenient EPS drop-off programs available at all 19 Altor locations in the United Stats and increased adoption of EmeraldPak, an Altor product made with predominantly recycled EPS content.

“Together, these efforts are helping create a more resilient, closed-loop EPS recycling ecosystem across North America,” states Altor, adding that 500 tons of EPS collected at typical packaging densities is enough to fill more than 1,400 garbage trucks.

“Diverting over 1 million pounds of EPS in a single year is something our entire team and our customers should be proud of,” says Terry Moody, CEO of Altor Solutions. “This progress reflects what’s possible when manufacturers, customers and recyclers work together. While we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished at Altor, this milestone represents another step toward a more regenerative approach to packaging value chains. We’re excited about the future of regenerative, closed-loop systems.”

Altor describes EPS as playing a critical role in protecting cold chain pharmaceuticals, perishables, appliances, furniture and other consumer products requiring protective packaging.

The firm says its recycling initiatives and the introduction of EmeraldPak are designed to preserve the performance benefits of EPS while reducing environmental impact through reuse, recovery and recycled-content techniques.

Altor Solutions says participation in its EPS recycling programs increased steadily throughout 2025, driven by customer demand and increased awareness of the EPS recycling stream. The adoption of EmeraldPak also accelerated as customers sought alternatives that maintain thermal performance while supporting recycled material markets, adds the company.

“We are extremely proud of what we’ve done in 2025 with regard to closing the loop in EPS recycling, but this is just the beginning,” says Ashok Ram, a senior vice president at Altor Solutions. “We pledge to double our EPS landfill diversion in 2026 based on the standard set this year.”

The company says it plans to continue expanding its EPS recycling infrastructure, customer education efforts and recycled-content offerings as part of its “Stairway to Green” initiative.