EFP

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.

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

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

• Protective packaging solutions
• Cold chain packaging
• Expanded polystyrene molding
• Temperature controlled shipping
• Sustainable fiber insulation

Headquarters

HQ city

Elkhart

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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

Core 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

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Foam CyclecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2026Foam 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 ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2026The 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2026PSRA 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.coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2022EFP 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 PactminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPSRA 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)coreTechnology or IntegrationEFP'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

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@efppackaging
• Facebookfacebook.com/EFPLife
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/efpllc
• Instagraminstagram.com/efppackaging
• Xx.com/EFPlife

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EFP