Expanded polystyrene, a lightweight, foam-like plastic material used to transport fragile items and in insulated boxes, is increasingly being criticized and banned around the world. However, in order to abandon it, this material must be replaced with something similar, but safe for the environment.

In the previous article, we wrote about the developments of Australian scientists who offer material based on mushroom mycelium. It is environmentally friendly, but not cheap and difficult to produce on a large scale. Today we want to talk about an American startup that has already offered its cheaper, and most importantly, easily implemented solution for large-scale production.

Cruz Foam has developed its so-called Cruz foam, which consists only of natural materials: chitin, starches and fibers obtained from agricultural waste. Interestingly, chitin, found in the shells of shrimp and other crustaceans, as well as insect exoskeletons, is already known to be a good bioplastic, but it has been used to create bioplastic films, not foams.

Cruz Foam offers natural-based styrofoam beads that can be extruded and molded into a wide range of packaging materials and containers using the same equipment that is used today in plants that make traditional styrofoam products. The new foam dissolves easily in water, which can then be safely poured onto the ground. Moreover, it will not even harm the animal if it accidentally eats it.

The company has already received approximately $27 million in funding from various foundations and has even brought its developments to the market in the form of final packaging products. By mid-2023, Cruz Foam is expected to enter the first phase of large-scale production of the new material.

The materials of the sites cnbc.com, cruzfoam.com were used.