EPLA foam molding
// Bio-based polylactide beads with EPS-class insulation and compression strength, that fully degrade in four weeks of industrial composting. No pentane blowing agent, no VOC, no shelf life. If your export program is being squeezed by single-use plastic rules, this is the replacement with the shortest argument to make.
The figures on this page are published industry and supplier values for this material family, not measured DBM product data — we do not have our own grade-level test results for EPLA yet. They are accurate enough to size a part and to rule options in or out. Final numbers are confirmed by us in writing against your part before you commit to anything.
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Molded density | 25–35 kg/m³ — grades at 30 and 35 g/L, 40 g/L also offered | ✅ |
| Compression @10%, 30 g/L grade | 200 kPa | ✅ |
| Compression @10%, 35 g/L grade | 300 kPa | ✅ |
| Compression yield, research value | Up to 535.1 kPa, against 67.3 kPa for the EPS control under the same conditions | 📊 |
| Thermal conductivity | 0.033 W/(m·K) at 30 g/L, 0.034 at 35 g/L — on par with EPS | ✅ |
| Bead size | 0.7–1.0 mm or 1.0–1.6 mm; typically 25 kg/m³ after expansion | ✅ |
| Forming temperature | 100–115°C | — |
| Degradability | Fully degrades in 4 weeks of industrial composting; bio-based throughout | ✅ |
| Environmental | No VOC, no shelf-life limit, no pentane blowing agent | ✅ |
| Appearance | Tinted pale green to distinguish it from white EPS | ✅ |
| Service temperature | about 65°C — the lowest here; not for hot-fill or warm storage | 📊 |
| Tensile / elongation / tear / compression set / water absorption / flame | No public figure — we request it with your enquiry | ⬜ |
Reference commercial grades
| Grade | Supplier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| BioFoam® | Synbra | Density grades 30 and 35 g/L, 40 also offered; beads 0.7–1.6 mm |
Green packaging for export programs
The material answers the regulation directly.
Insulated single-trip shipping
EPS-class insulation without the EPS end-of-life problem.
Why we can run it
// Low forming temperature and dedicated tooling — the beads need molding equipment set up for them, which is why this material rarely appears alongside conventional foams.