THE USE OF EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE IN CONSTRUCTION Critical Reflections on an Environmentally Harmful Material

The subject of the present study is a material that is widely used in construction: expanded polystyrene. The term refers to a synthetic insulator with a cellular structure that is used in building, either in its “sintered” form (in which case it is called EPS and used mainly for wall insulation and covering) or its “extruded” form (in which case it is called XPS and used for wall insulation and covering, especially when it is necessary for the material to be impact- and compression-resistant or more aesthetically pleasing). The aim of the research is to study this material in depth and provide greater awareness regarding its use and application in construction, in particular with respect to the relationship that the use of this product can have with the environment. Too often orkers do not recognise the effects, whether direct or indirect, local or remote, that the use of a product entails, and the term “sustainability” is often used to describe actions, components, and materials that under closer examination show a significant environmental “weight” that can be minimised by implementing more ecological solutions. The inappropriate use of this term in some cases happens by praising characteristics of the material that apparently increase its sustainability value while overlooking other negative aspects, such as those entailed by the production, use, and disposal of the product or the decommissioning of a project. The present brochure does not intend to blacklist polystyrene, but rather promote its conscious use through precise knowledge of both the positive and negative factors connected to the use of this material.