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Polystyrene is a versatile plastic that plays an important role in our everyday lives – from food packaging and medical supplies to bike helmets and refrigerators. It’s our belief that it should be produced in the most sustainable way to serve our customers and the public and to protect our planet.

That’s what drives us. We’re proud to be a leader in sustainability – having developed an innovative circular recycling process that breaks down polystyrene into its original material, which can then be used to make products with the same quality and durability as the original polystyrene.

Our long-term vision is that polystyrene products should never be landfilled but reclaimed, reprocessed and reused again and again. As part of that commitment, we’ve pledged to have 30 percent recycled content in all materials for food packaging products by 2030.

Our Sustainability Beliefs

The plastic recycling problem can be fixed
POLYSTYRENE PLASTIC IS ESSENTIAL.

Life-enhancing products are necessary for many uses: medical, food packaging, home goods, consumer safety – the list goes on. They should be made from the most sustainable and climate favorable material possible.

Simplify recycling - All plastics in one recycling bin
PLASTIC PRODUCERS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAD RECYCLING INNOVATIONS.

We're committed to driving a rapid pace of change that results in plastic waste being repurposed into new plastic products. This includes expanding collection infrastructure to keep plastic waste out of the environment and landfills, coupled with new manufacturing capacity that converts plastic waste into sustainable, life-enhancing products.

Single-use items should be sustainable materials
Partnerships are imperative to achieve circularity.

A future where all plastics are recycled will require a shared vision, collaboration, and commitments from manufacturers, processors, packaging companies – and more broadly, cities and states – to make recycling simple so everyone can participate. We’re forging these relationships every day to advance plastics recycling.

Our Circular Recycling Process

Solving the plastics recycling challenge means creating alternative uses for products that would end up in landfills.

At AmSty, that’s why we’re forging ahead with an innovative circular recycling technology that takes used polystyrene products and returns them to the same product with their original quality and durability.

AmSty is proud to be the leading US producer of certified recycled polystyrene.

AmSty Circular Recycling Process for Plastics / Polystyrene

Our Commitment

All AmSty resin that goes into food packaging and foodservice products will be made from 30% recycled materials by 2030.

In The Loop

Plastics are an important part of our everyday lives – from food containers and packaging that keep us safe and healthy, to medical supplies, insulation and more – but they must be managed responsibly. The reality is our plastics recycling system isn’t working. At AmSty, we’re committed to innovative solutions, starting with polystyrene, and we’re well on our way. We invite you to learn more about our future plans, the technology we use, and our progress to ensure a circular economy for plastic.


In The Loop Blog
Larry Somma is a man on the move. As an accomplished endurance athlete, he has competed in 21 marathons and 17 Ironman triathlons. Accomplished in his career, Somma has landed roles that put on a few more road miles – taking him from his home state o...
In The Loop Blog
As Logistics Supervisor at AmSty's Torrance, California, polystyrene plant, Jesse Arroyo makes sure each member of the team does everything that needs to get done – the right way – to supply the plant with raw materials and provide valued customers w...
Sustainability
In The Loop Blog
By Richard Shaw, Director – Sustainability & Circular Economy Sustainability is foundational to everything we do at AmSty. That's why we're proud to showcase our history and progress in our sustainability reports. This year's report, "Buildi...
In The Loop Blog
By Kevin Stallmo, Sales Director In the last book I reviewed, The 5 Graces of Life and Leadership by Gary Burnison, I mentioned another great book that took our team to the next level of resilience, The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday. This book ...
Sustainability
THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Mon., July 29 – AmSty, the leading producer of styrene monomer, polystyrene, and certified recycled polystyrene in the Americas, today announced the release of its 2024 sustainability report, "Building Momentum." The repor...
Sustainability
In The Loop Blog
By Dr. Randy Pogue, CEO  Whether you've landed your first "real" job fresh out of college or have been in the workforce for a handful of years, it makes sense to put your nose to the grindstone and get the job done to the best of your ability. N...

America’s Change MakersSM Shines Spotlight on the People Behind the Progress 


At AmSty, we’re proud to tell the story of how we’re combining innovation and sustainability for a lower carbon future and circular economy for plastic – and more importantly the people behind the progress. That’s what America’s Change MakersSM from the American Chemistry Council is all about – showcasing the talents and dedication of people like AmSty’s Penny Williams and John Brownhill, engineers at our Allyn’s Point facility.  


America’s Change MakersSM is shining the spotlight on the engineers, scientists, designers, technicians and more who are behind the scenes revolutionizing the way plastics are made.  


PLASTIC RECYCLING IS REAL AND EXPANDING

Polystyrene plastic recycling is happening and gaining momentum as recognized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). UNEP reports that expanded polystyrene transport packaging – like seafood shipments to restaurants, cold packs sent to grocery stores and product packaging for furniture stores – is being recycled at scale in specific countries and regions. AmSty is working diligently to further expand recycling options in the U.S. and beyond for a more sustainable future.  


Grants Promote Foam Recycling Across North America

Environmentally conscious consumers have more ways to recycle foam polystyrene items like cups, egg cartons, foodservice containers and packaging materials thanks to grants from the Food Packaging Institute’s (FPI) Foam Recycling Coalition (FRC).   

AmSty is a proud member of FRC, which has awarded 34 grants totaling more than $1,570,000 since 2015, expanding post-consumer foam polystyrene recycling across North America. Nearly 15 million residents in the U.S. and Canada can now recycle foam polystyrene as a result of FRC grants. Six communities launched new programs in 2023 with others on board for 2024.  

The process to recycle foam is like that of other recyclables. In the case of foam products, a special compactor – called a densifier – may be used in the processing of the material. Foam products are over 90% air, so densifying it allows the material to be transported more cost-effectively. To give you an example, a 48-foot truckload of baled foam polystyrene weighs only around 16,000 pounds, whereas a truckload of densified foam polystyrene weighs 40,000 pounds.  

Are you ready to join millions of others recycling foam? Click here to find a location near you!  

In The Loop Blog
Larry Somma is a man on the move. As an accomplished endurance athlete, he has competed in 21 marathons and 17 Ironman triathlons. Accomplished in his career, Somma has landed roles that put on a few more road miles – taking him from his home state o...
In The Loop Blog
As Logistics Supervisor at AmSty's Torrance, California, polystyrene plant, Jesse Arroyo makes sure each member of the team does everything that needs to get done – the right way – to supply the plant with raw materials and provide valued customers w...
Sustainability
In The Loop Blog
By Richard Shaw, Director – Sustainability & Circular Economy Sustainability is foundational to everything we do at AmSty. That's why we're proud to showcase our history and progress in our sustainability reports. This year's report, "Buildi...

Sustainability Stories

To help raise awareness on these pivotal issues, we have cataloged some of the best and brightest articles on plastics recycling, waste management, and related topics. These posts represent what's at the heart of the matter, for us. Stay in the loop as we work towards the goal of solving the plastics waste problem.