For more than 50 years, expandable polystyrene (EPS) has been used to develop a variety of products, including Styrofoam cups, packaging material and car bumpers. Although it is made of 95% air and 5% plastic, EPS is quite rigid, acting as a great shock absorber and excellent insulator of both heat and sound. Since EPS is odourless and non-toxic, it is a safe and inexpensive alternative to other materials, and like most plastics, can be recycled.