BEWI Launches Norway’s First Dedicated EPS Recycling Plant in Fredrikstad

Photo Credit: BEWI

BEWI has commissioned Norway’s first dedicated expanded polystyrene (EPS) recycling facility, marking a step toward domestic circular use of insulation materials as demand for recycled content rises, the company said in a statement released this week.

According to reports, the plant is located at BEWI’s insulation manufacturing site in Fredrikstad, allowing recycled EPS to be fed directly back into production. Industry analysts say colocating recycling with manufacturing can cut transport emissions and improve material traceability at a time when European building standards are tightening around recycled content and lifecycle performance.

EPS waste, commonly generated from construction insulation and packaging, has historically faced collection and recycling challenges due to its low density and fragmented waste streams. Observers note that Norway, despite strong environmental regulation, has lacked industrial-scale EPS recycling capacity, leaving much of the material to be downcycled or exported for processing.

The Fredrikstad facility is equipped with mechanical sorting and processing technology and is designed to handle up to 3,500 tonnes of EPS annually, BEWI reporting shows. Material sourced from regional construction and packaging waste streams is processed into granulate that can be reused in new insulation products, including the company’s GreenLine EPS and Terra XPS ranges. Company executives say this setup supports compliance with emerging regulatory requirements while responding to customer demand for products with verified recycled content.

The project was developed with support from research institutions, industry funds, and local partners, including the Norwegian Retailers’ Environment Fund and Sintef Community. Industry groups argue that such partnerships are increasingly critical as recycling systems become more complex and require coordination across collection, logistics, and manufacturing.

BEWI’s Norway investment builds on a broader European recycling network. Data published by the company show it collected more than 38,000 tonnes of EPS across Europe in 2025, the highest volume reported among insulation producers. The group already operates recycling facilities in Sweden, Czechia, Portugal, Belgium, and the Netherlands, and holds a minority stake in a plant in Poland, reflecting a wider push to secure recycled feedstock within its own value chain.

Looking ahead, analysts say the success of the Fredrikstad plant will depend on stable regional collection rates and continued policy support for recycled materials in construction. If effective, the model could be replicated in other Nordic markets where insulation demand remains strong but recycling infrastructure is still developing.

Source: BEWI

SUNSHINE Spotlight: BEWI’s new Fredrikstad plant brings EPS recycling onshore in Norway, tightening the loop between waste collection and insulation production.