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Exploring the Aesthetic Applications of Expanded Polystyrene: An Interdisciplinary Review
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Researchers reviewed interdisciplinary applications of expanded polystyrene (EPS) in art and design, arguing that creative repurposing and aesthetic reuse represent meaningful, if partial, strategies for addressing the environmental burden of this lightweight, difficult-to-recycle material.
Some researchers contend that repurposing and reuse of EPS for artistic and aesthetic purposes represents a meaningful step in addressing the environmental challenges associated with its widespread commercial and single-use applications. It is in line with this thought that this review paper seeks to explore the wide range of creative and aesthetic applications of polystyrene across various disciplines, shedding light on its versatility, aesthetics, and functional qualities. The purpose of the review is to ascertain the contribution of the creative field to environmental sustainability through the (re)use of EPS. Taking a qualitative route, this review of literature is guided by the following research questions: (a) What are the inherent properties and characteristics of EPS? (b) In what myriad aesthetic contexts have EPS found utility and application? (c) What are the key challenges associated with employing this material for artistic purposes? Given the difficulty that accompanies the recycling options for EPS, its use in art has become another avenue for extending the material’s end-of-life use. However, the paper found that while some artists contribute to the development of a green society by using discarded EPS in their art, others contribute to the problem by choosing to use virgin EPS for their art because of benefits such as the material’s lightweight, ease of carving, and cheapness. Therefore, this paper recommends that if artists must use EPS, then they should make it a point of duty to go for discarded EPS and other plastic wastes to help the environment.
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This mini-review summarizes recycling technologies and emerging applications for expanded polystyrene waste, examining mechanical, chemical, and dissolution recycling methods and their practical feasibility for diverting EPS from landfill in both developed and developing countries.
A Multi-Measure Analysis: Evaluating the Sustainability of Polystyrene Waste Mitigation Technologies - Towards A Circular Economy: Sustainable Management
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This art and culture paper examines how contemporary artists have used plastic waste as a medium, exploring how art can communicate environmental concerns about plastic pollution to the public. The work documents artistic responses to the global plastic crisis. While not a scientific study, art-based approaches are relevant to raising public awareness about microplastic contamination and motivating behavioral change.
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Researchers reviewed biodegradable foam alternatives to expanded polystyrene (EPS) packaging, evaluating manufacturing methods including extrusion, thermo-expansion, 3D printing, and supercritical fluid processing of renewable polysaccharides derived from agro-industrial waste as more sustainable options.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.