EFP
EFP is a U.S. manufacturer founded in 1954 that produces EPS/EPP molded protective packaging and cold-chain shipping systems for pharmaceutical, food distribution, third-party logistics, and appliance/electronics customers, operating seven manufacturing sites nationwide under parent J.B. Poindexter & Co.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1954
- HeadquartersElkhart, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What EFP does
EFP, LLC is a U.S. specialty packaging manufacturer founded in 1954 and headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana. The company produces expanded polystyrene (EPS) and expanded polypropylene (EPP) molded protective packaging for appliances, electronics, and consumer goods, alongside a cold-chain product line comprising EPS coolers, kitted coolers, ArcticKool gel packs, and qualified temperature-controlled packaging systems for pharmaceutical, food distribution, vaccine, and other temperature-sensitive shipments. EFP is owned by J.B. Poindexter & Co., a privately held diversified manufacturing conglomerate, and operates seven manufacturing and operational locations across the U.S. — Indiana (Elkhart, Evansville), Michigan (Howell), Tennessee (La Vergne), Alabama (Decatur), South Carolina (Bishopville), and Arizona (Casa Grande) — providing coast-to-coast coverage.
The company's core technology stack centers on Erlenbach GmbH EMMotion 1.6 shape molding presses for custom EPS/EPP parts, an ISTA-certified Center of Excellence laboratory with walk-in thermal testing chambers supporting up to 144 thermocouple probes, Kaye AVS Validator data logging systems (CFR 21 Part 11 compliant), and an in-house R&D capability for Phase Change Materials (PCMs) including water-based gel packs, controlled room temperature (CRT) packs, and dry ice alternatives. Following its 2022 acquisition of NatureKool, Inc., EFP extended into plant-based natural fiber insulation (hemp and cotton bast fibers) for cold chain, with ASTM D6400 and EN 13432 compostability certifications. The company also operates EPS recycling drop-off at six locations and participates in the Polystyrene Recycling Alliance.
EFP operates a hybrid revenue model combining hardware product sales (EPS/EPP packaging, cold-chain kits, gel packs, NatureKool insulation), professional services (consulting, design, thermal qualification testing at the Center of Excellence, and lane testing), and managed services (EPS recycling). Distribution occurs through a direct field sales force serving enterprise accounts (pharma manufacturers, 3PL providers, appliance/electronics OEMs) and a direct e-commerce storefront for standard products. Customer segments include pharmaceutical and life sciences, food and perishables distribution, third-party logistics providers, and consumer products and appliances — with regulatory tailwinds from state-level EPR legislation favoring the company's sustainable packaging portfolio.
EFP firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- EFP
- Legal name
- EFP, LLC
- Website
- https://efppackaging.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1954
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- EFP is a U.S. manufacturer founded in 1954 that produces EPS/EPP molded protective packaging and cold-chain shipping systems for pharmaceutical, food distribution, third-party logistics, and appliance/electronics customers, operating seven manufacturing sites nationwide under parent J.B. Poindexter & Co.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
EFP industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Protective and Cold Chain Packaging
- NAICS
- Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet (including Laminated) Manufacturing (326112), Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (3334)
- SIC
- Plastic Material, Synth Resin/Rubber, Cellulos (No Glass) (2820)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Foam Protective Packaging (EPS/EPE/EPP, PU, Molded Foam) (IMALAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Packaging, Insulation & Temperature-Controlled Shippers (Qualified Systems) (HLAGAMAF), Passive Temperature-Controlled Packaging & Insulated Shipper Services (TLACAMAK)
Keywords
Where EFP is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Elkhart
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
EFP business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Protective and Consumer Packaging Products: EFP manufactures and sells a broad range of protective packaging materials (EPS, EPP molded components) for protection and distribution applications across appliances, electronics, and consumer goods. Revenue is generated through high-volume molding and fabrication of custom and standard protective packaging products.
- Cold Chain and Temperature Solutions: EFP provides complete cold-chain product lines including EPS coolers, kitted coolers, ArcticKool gel packs, phase change materials, and qualified temperature-controlled packaging systems for pharmaceutical, food distribution, vaccine, and temperature-sensitive product shipping.
- NatureKool Sustainable Packaging: Sale of NatureKool natural fiber insulation products and complete optimized temperature-controlled packaging systems, offered as insulation sets or fully qualified packaging systems, serving the sustainable packaging需求.
- Packaging Engineering and Testing Services: EFP's Center of Excellence provides consultation, packaging design services, thermal testing, qualification studies (DQ/OQ/PQ), lane testing, and engineering support, billed as professional services alongside product sales.
- EPS Recycling Services: EFP accepts clean EPS materials at its manufacturing facilities for recycling and reuse, supporting circular economy operations. The company also recycles its own EPS production waste and processes externally collected EPS.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
EFP product offering
Product offeringCore offering
EFP, LLC manufactures protective packaging (custom-molded EPS and EPP components) and cold-chain shipping solutions (EPS coolers, kitted coolers, ArcticKool gel packs, and NatureKool natural fiber insulation). Its Center of Excellence laboratory provides ISTA-certified thermal testing, qualification studies, and engineering services, with nationwide distribution from seven U.S. manufacturing locations.
Product overview
EFP, LLC is a packaging manufacturer offering protective packaging, cold chain solutions, and packaging supply chain services. The portfolio includes EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) coolers and kitted coolers as core products, supplemented by the NatureKool® sub-brand for sustainable plant-based insulation solutions acquired in 2022. Temperature Solutions provides complete cold-chain services from design through qualification, supported by the ISTA-certified Center of Excellence Laboratory. The company also operates an online store for direct product ordering and offers EPS recycling services at six U.S. locations. Products range from traditional petroleum-based EPS to natural fiber alternatives, addressing pharmaceuticals, food distribution, and general temperature-sensitive shipping needs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- NatureKool®: Sustainable shipping solution using renewable natural fibers for temperature-controlled packaging. Provides environmentally conscious temperature assurance packaging for pharmaceuticals, food distribution, vaccines, and other temperature-sensitive products.
- ArcticKool™
- Center of Excellence (COE)
Products and services
- Protective Packaging High-volume molding and fabrication services for EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) and EPP (Expanded Polypropylene) protective packaging, including custom shape molding using Erlenbach GmbH EMMotion 1.6 press machines. Designed for manufacturers of appliances, consumer electronics, and other durable goods requiring shock and vibration protection during transport and distribution.
- Temperature Solutions Complete cold-chain product line and services from ideation to conception, including consultation, design, and packaging engineering for pharmaceutical, food distribution, vaccine, and other temperature-sensitive product shipments. Delivered alongside the Center of Excellence qualification services.
- NatureKool Sustainable plant-based insulation shipping solution for cold chain logistics made from renewable natural fibers (hemp and/or cotton bast). Available as insulation sets or fully optimized and qualified temperature-controlled packaging systems for pharmaceuticals, food distribution, vaccines, and other temperature-sensitive products.
- EPS Coolers Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) insulated containers for temperature-controlled shipping without outer box corrugate, providing cost-effective thermal protection for pharmaceutical and food shipments.
- EPS Kitted Coolers
Quantifiable outcome
- EPS reduces total packaging weight by 50–70% compared to alternative packaging formats, directly reducing transportation emissions
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use EFP
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
EFP technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
EFP partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Foam CyclecoreFoam Cycle provides patented foam collection and densification systems. Through a collaboration with PSRA and the Nashville Department of Waste Services, Foam Cycle's system is installed at the East Convenience Center in Nashville to collect EPS and process it for transport to EFP's manufacturing facility in La Vergne, Tennessee.
- Nashville Department of Waste ServicescoreThe Nashville Department of Waste Services collaborated with PSRA and Foam Cycle to expand EPS recycling in Nashville, installing a Foam Cycle collection and densification system at the East Convenience Center. The program includes a portable trailer system for on-demand collection at universities, festivals, and seasonal events.
- Polystyrene Recycling Alliance (PSRA)corePSRA is an industry group launched by the Plastics Industry Association in 2025. EFP participates in PSRA initiatives and uses the group's end market data to advocate with regulators and NGOs for 'widely recyclable' status for polystyrene amid state-level restrictions. EFP's manufacturing facility in La Vergne, Tennessee serves as an end market for PSRA's EPS recycling programs.
- NatureKool, Inc.coreEFP acquired NatureKool, Inc. in 2022, a major step in EFP's sustainability commitment. The acquisition added NatureKool natural fiber insulation products to EFP's portfolio, providing environmentally friendly, temperature-controlled packaging alternatives. Joe Grzyb, co-founder of NatureKool, now serves as EFP's Director of Sustainability.
- Mexican Plastics PactminorPSRA announced a partnership with the Mexican Plastics Pact to boost HIPS dairy packaging recycling in central Mexico, expanding EPS and polystyrene recycling initiatives across North America.
- ISTA (International Safe Transit Association)coreEFP's Center of Excellence laboratory is ISTA-certified and follows ISTA standards for cold chain packaging qualification. EFP staff participate in the ISTA Pharma Committee, contributing to industry guidance documents including ISTA PHARMA-03, PCW-01, and PCW-02 covering temperature profile development, lane testing, and risk assessment.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
EFP competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sonoco ThermoSafe: Sonoco's ThermoSafe division is a leading global provider of temperature-assured packaging for pharmaceuticals, biologics, and clinical trials, directly competing with EFP's cold chain product line including pre-qualified shippers and gel packs.
- Pelican BioThermal: Pelican BioThermal manufactures reusable and single-use temperature-controlled shippers for the life sciences industry, directly overlapping with EFP's pharmaceutical cold chain EPS and PCM offerings.
- Cold Chain Technologies: Cold Chain Technologies designs and manufactures thermal packaging solutions for temperature-sensitive biologics, pharmaceuticals, and food, with pre-qualified parcel and pallet shipper systems directly comparable to EFP's cold chain portfolio.
- CSafe Global: CSafe Global provides active and passive temperature-controlled air cargo containers and parcel shippers for pharma, with global distribution that overlaps EFP's cold chain focus on biologics and vaccine distribution.
- ACH Foam Technologies: ACH Foam Technologies is a major EPS molded foam packaging manufacturer serving protective packaging and cold chain applications, directly competing with EFP's high-volume EPS molding and protective packaging business.
- Foam Fabricators: Foam Fabricators is a North American manufacturer of EPS, EPP, and molded pulp protective packaging, with multiple plant locations serving appliance, electronics, and cold chain customers comparable to EFP's protective packaging business.
- va-Q-tec: va-Q-tec specializes in high-performance vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) and phase change material (PCM) temperature-controlled shipping containers for pharma and biotech, directly comparable to EFP's PCM and qualified cold chain systems.
- Atlas Molded Products: Atlas Molded Products is a regional EPS and geofoam manufacturer serving protective packaging, cold chain, and construction markets across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic, directly comparable to EFP's EPS molding and protective packaging business.
Broad incumbents
- Storopack: Storopack is a global protective packaging manufacturer offering EPS, EPP, paper, and air cushion solutions for industrial and e-commerce shipping, broadly competing with EFP's protective packaging line across multiple material categories.
- Pregis: Pregis is a large North American protective and food packaging manufacturer offering paper, foam, and air-based solutions, overlapping with EFP's EPS/EPP protective packaging business as a broader portfolio player.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
EFP social profiles
Digital presenceEFP compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
EFP financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
EFP leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
EFP subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
EFP funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
EFP M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about EFP
What does EFP do?
EFP, LLC manufactures protective packaging (custom-molded EPS and EPP components) and cold-chain shipping solutions (EPS coolers, kitted coolers, ArcticKool gel packs, and NatureKool natural fiber insulation). Its Center of Excellence laboratory provides ISTA-certified thermal testing, qualification studies, and engineering services, with nationwide distribution from seven U.S. manufacturing locations.
Is EFP a public or private company?
EFP is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was EFP founded?
EFP was founded in 1954. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is EFP based?
EFP is headquartered in Elkhart, United States, in the North America region.
How does EFP make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Protective and Consumer Packaging Products are the primary driver. The others are cold Chain and Temperature Solutions, natureKool Sustainable Packaging, packaging Engineering and Testing Services and EPS Recycling Services.
Who are EFP's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sonoco ThermoSafe, Pelican BioThermal, Cold Chain Technologies, CSafe Global, ACH Foam Technologies, Foam Fabricators, va-Q-tec and Atlas Molded Products. Broad incumbents are Storopack and Pregis.
Does EFP have an API?
No public API is recorded for EFP.
What industry is EFP in?
EFP's product category is Protective and Cold Chain Packaging. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMALAFAA, Foam Protective Packaging (EPS/EPE/EPP, PU, Molded Foam), with a secondary code of HLAGAMAF, Packaging, Insulation & Temperature-Controlled Shippers (Qualified Systems). Its NAICS code is 326112 and its SIC code is 2820.