The European ISLOPOL (Island Loop for Polystyrene Circularity) project, completed in September, has laid the groundwork for a regional circular economy for expanded polystyrene (EPS) waste, commonly known as styrofoam.
Funded by the Horizon Europe program and part of the CIRCULOOS initiative, ISLOPOL aims to shift from a linear waste management model to a circular solution focused on the local identification, separation, traceability, and reuse of EPS.
A key development was the installation of a computer vision system at Águas e Resíduos da Madeira (ARM), which used artificial intelligence to identify styrofoam in waste streams. The project involved Logimade, ARDITI, ARM, and Esferolight, with the latter reintegrating recycled EPS into new products like insulation boards.
