Study finds recycled EPS can cut carbon footprint in helmet applications

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journal Circular Economy , evaluated Epsilyte’s recycled-content EPS technology using a streamlined life cycle assessment conducted by researchers from the University of California, Irvine, Texas A&M University and industry partners including Epsilyte and Trek Bicycle. Researchers found that producing EPS with 50 percent post-consumer feedstock reduced global warming potential by about 45 percent compared with virgin material. Across all 17 environmental impact categories evaluated, the recycled formulation produced either environmental improvements or no net increase in impacts. The study also examined two commercially available bicycle helmets, where EPS serves as the energy-absorbing liner. Because EPS represents only one component of a finished helmet, replacing virgin material with recycled reduced the overall global warming potential of the helmets by roughly 5 percent to 10...