House wrapped in recycled styrofoam insulation

Sustainable Insulation: Turning Recycled Styrofoam into Eco-Friendly Home Protection

Lena Kashyap in Climate & Environment August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how innovative research transforms polystyrene waste into high-performance, recyclable insulation, reducing environmental impact and improving home energy efficiency."

In an era where sustainability is no longer a buzzword but a necessity, the construction industry faces mounting pressure to adopt eco-friendly practices. Traditional building materials often contribute significantly to carbon emissions and waste, prompting researchers and innovators to seek alternatives that minimize environmental impact. Thermal insulation, a critical component of energy-efficient buildings, is ripe for disruption. As homeowners and builders become increasingly aware of the ecological footprint of their choices, the demand for sustainable insulation solutions is soaring.

One promising avenue lies in the realm of recycled materials. Imagine transforming discarded polystyrene, a ubiquitous plastic waste product, into high-performance insulation that not only reduces landfill burden but also enhances the energy efficiency of homes. This vision is now closer to reality thanks to groundbreaking research focused on developing recyclable insulation materials from polystyrene waste. This innovative approach addresses two pressing environmental concerns simultaneously: plastic pollution and energy consumption in buildings.

This article delves into the experimental and analytical determination of water vapor transmission properties of a novel recyclable insulation material. By understanding these properties, we can unlock the potential of sustainable insulation to create healthier, more energy-efficient homes while minimizing our impact on the planet.

How Can Recycled Polystyrene Insulation Benefit Your Home?

House wrapped in recycled styrofoam insulation

The core of this innovation involves re-expanded polystyrene (EPS), derived from polystyrene waste, combined with cement to create a lightweight concrete composite. This material, dubbed Therminside, offers a unique blend of thermal performance and moisture management, crucial for maintaining comfortable and healthy indoor environments.

The key advantage of Therminside lies in its ability to balance thermal insulation with water vapor transmission. Unlike some conventional insulation materials that can trap moisture within walls, leading to mold growth and structural damage, Therminside is designed to allow water vapor to pass through freely. This "breathable" quality helps maintain a healthy moisture balance within the building envelope, preventing potential problems associated with dampness.

Reduced Carbon Footprint: By utilizing recycled polystyrene, the material reduces the need for virgin plastic production, minimizing carbon emissions and landfill waste.
Improved Energy Efficiency: The thermal insulation properties of Therminside help reduce heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer, lowering energy consumption and utility bills.
Enhanced Moisture Management: The material's ability to transmit water vapor prevents moisture buildup within walls, reducing the risk of mold growth and structural damage.
Cost-Effectiveness: Therminside offers a competitive price point compared to traditional insulation materials, making sustainable building more accessible.

Researchers conducted extensive testing to determine the diffusion parameters of Therminside, focusing on its ability to manage water vapor transport. The goal was to create a material with a diffusion resistance coefficient close to 6-7, ensuring optimal moisture flow through brick walls without causing thermal or moisture disturbances. The results demonstrated the great potential of using recycling materials in construction, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional insulation.

Building a Sustainable Future, One Wall at a Time

The development of recyclable insulation materials like Therminside represents a significant step forward in creating a more sustainable construction industry. By transforming waste into valuable resources, we can reduce our environmental impact, conserve energy, and build healthier homes for future generations. As research and innovation continue to push the boundaries of sustainable building practices, the future of construction looks increasingly green.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.10.093, Alternate LINK

Title: Experimental And Analytical Determination Of Water Vapour Transmission Properties Of Recyclable Insulation Material

Subject: General Materials Science

Journal: Construction and Building Materials

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Bożena Orlik-Kożdoń, Tomasz Steidl

Published: 2018-12-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is Therminside and how does it contribute to sustainable building practices?

Therminside is a novel recyclable insulation material created by combining re-expanded polystyrene (EPS) derived from polystyrene waste with cement. This innovative composite offers a sustainable solution for thermal insulation and moisture management in buildings. By utilizing recycled polystyrene, Therminside reduces the demand for new plastic production, lowers carbon emissions, and minimizes landfill waste. It also enhances energy efficiency by reducing heat loss and gain, leading to lower energy consumption and utility bills. Its ability to transmit water vapor prevents moisture buildup, mitigating mold growth and structural damage, making it a key component in eco-friendly construction.

How does Therminside's water vapor transmission properties benefit homes compared to conventional insulation?

Therminside is engineered to allow water vapor to pass through it freely, unlike some conventional insulation materials that can trap moisture. This 'breathable' quality prevents moisture buildup within walls, which can lead to mold growth and structural damage. The design ensures a healthy moisture balance within the building envelope, creating a healthier indoor environment. The diffusion resistance coefficient of Therminside is designed to be around 6-7, to facilitate optimal moisture flow through brick walls without causing thermal or moisture disturbances. This is a significant advantage over traditional insulation, which can sometimes exacerbate moisture-related issues.

What are the key advantages of using Therminside for home insulation?

Using Therminside offers multiple benefits. First, it reduces the carbon footprint by utilizing recycled polystyrene, thereby minimizing the need for new plastic production and reducing landfill waste. Second, it improves energy efficiency by reducing heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer, leading to lower energy consumption and reduced utility bills. Third, it enhances moisture management by allowing water vapor transmission, preventing moisture buildup and reducing the risk of mold and structural damage. Finally, it offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional insulation materials, making sustainable building solutions more accessible.

How is recycled polystyrene transformed into Therminside, and what makes it a sustainable material?

The transformation involves taking polystyrene waste and re-expanding it to create re-expanded polystyrene (EPS). This EPS is then combined with cement to form Therminside. This process addresses two major environmental concerns: plastic pollution and energy consumption in buildings. Therminside is sustainable because it uses a waste material, polystyrene, which reduces the need for virgin plastic production, lowers carbon emissions, and minimizes landfill waste. Additionally, its thermal insulation properties help to reduce energy consumption in homes. The use of recycled materials and its contribution to energy efficiency make Therminside a sustainable choice for insulation.

What role does the construction industry play in sustainability, and how does Therminside fit into this picture?

The construction industry has a significant impact on the environment, due to its reliance on materials that generate substantial carbon emissions and waste. Therminside offers a sustainable alternative by transforming waste polystyrene into high-performance insulation. This contributes to reducing the industry's environmental footprint. Therminside is a part of a broader trend towards sustainable building practices, including reducing the carbon footprint, improving energy efficiency, and enhancing moisture management within buildings. By adopting materials like Therminside, the construction industry can move towards a more environmentally responsible future, decreasing its reliance on conventional materials and promoting resource conservation.