- Posted in Competitons, Marketing related, Polystyrene Uses by Fran

Minister Eamon Ryan & Colm Lyon CEO Realex promote Media 2020 conference. (image mediacontact.ie)
The original idea behind this post was to show you examples of signs that made we created from expanded polystyrene foam (EPS), and which feature government ministers.
I thought it would be topical, particularly with media talk of a cabinet reshuffle and the recent resignations of Fianna Fáil’s Willie O’Dea and the Green Party’s Trevor Sargent.
The title was a little lame, “Polystyrene signs & Politicians”, so I started running through some alternatives and “Polystyrene Politicians” came into my head. I then started to think how the two might compare.
Here is a list of some of the properties and characteristics that apply to expanded polystyrene foam (EPS). I have my own ideas on how they would compare, but I would like you to add a comment below to see how you think they compare to our current crop of politicians.

Minister Batt O'Keefe at the 'F1 in Schools' press launch (image f1inschools.ie)
Lightweight:
Moulded into large blocks, but they don’t require heavy lifting equipment to move them as it is 95% air. It is used to fill large areas on civil engineering projects where ground conditions prevent traditional material being used; on multi story buildings to replicate stone features, and mixed with sand and cement to produce a lightweight concrete.
Insulator:
It can be used in various locations, both internal and external. Applications include: EWI (external wall insulation) for homes and commercial building; in foundations to prevent thermal cold-bridging, and in moulded boxes to ship food stuffs that are temperature sensitive.

Minister Mary Coughlan at the Qikroam launch (image via Cubic Telecom)
Packaging:
It is often moulded to match the shape of the product and protects it from damage whilst it is being transported. Polystyrene’s shock absorption properties make it suitable for packing delicate items. Blocks can also be cut into custom shapes or can be used as loose fill, known as packing peanuts.
Recyclable:
Expanded Polystyrene foam, also known as Styrofoam, is widely recycled from businesses in commercial and retail sectors. It can be reused, but when it enters the waste recovery stream, it can reprocessed to make new blocks of EPS; melted down and converted into other plastic products, or recovered as a fuel, due to it’s high calorific value.

Ministr John Gormley at the RIAI launch of the Register of Architects
For those of you that leave a comment we won’t promise you your own politician: we will do better than that. We will select the best comment and let you choose an item that is useful to you, e.g. an air guitar, your name, an outline of Ireland or some other prop.
So, point out a property of polystyrene present in a politician to possibly be picked for a polystyrene prize.




















