Over half a million euro grant awarded for development of eco-friendly EPS alternative by PaperFoam and partners

Many products, from heating and ventilation appliances to furniture and electronic goods, are still packaged using fillers and corner pieces made from expanded polystyrene (EPS), a petroleum-based material. However, the demand for environmentally friendly alternatives is growing rapidly. This shift is driven not only by legal restrictions but also by a clear preference from companies and consumers to move away from Styrofoam packaging.

In response to this need, a consortium of Dutch companies—PaperFoam B.V. from Barneveld, Innograaf from Doorn, Thermoware | Particle Foam Machinery from Barneveld, Jadima Fijnmetaalbewerking B.V. from Ede, and Vaventis from Enschede—will work together to develop a new, bio-based packaging alternative with a significantly lower carbon footprint. This innovative material, which is set to be both recyclable like paper and compostable, aims to address the market’s growing need for sustainable packaging solutions.

The project, titled ‘BRAVE’ (Biologically Recyclable Alternative to Packaging with EPS), marks a bold step for PaperFoam. The company is pushing beyond its traditional focus on packaging for products up to 5 kg, exploring new applications for its sustainable material. This ambitious scope, along with the innovative nature of the project, contributed to the approval of a substantial grant amounting to €583,538.

The grant was awarded by the ERDF East 2021-2027, a European programme co-financed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Provinces of Gelderland and Overijssel. The BRAVE project application scored highly due to its alignment with the programme’s objectives, its financial and economic prospects, the quality of the proposal, and its potential to promote sustainable development and social impact.

ProSuME facilitated the grant application process on behalf of PaperFoam and its partners. Together, they aim to pave the way for a greener, more sustainable future in the packaging industry.