Styropor

What Styropor does

Styropor is the consumer-facing brand of GPH (Güteschutzgemeinschaft Polystyrol-Hartschaum), an Austrian industry and quality assurance association headquartered in Oberwaltersdorf. GPH represents Austrian manufacturers of expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation and packaging products, and functions as a standards body, brand steward, and industry advocate rather than as a direct producer. The entity operates with a small staff of 12 employees and coordinates activities across product certification, sustainability research, recycling infrastructure, and consumer education.

The core technology is expanded polystyrene (EPS) — a rigid foam composed of 98% air and 2% polystyrene, produced via suspension polymerization using pentane as a blowing agent. A newer 'grey EPS' variant incorporates graphite particles for improved thermal insulation. The product portfolio spans six grades: EPS-W (standard insulation), EPS-F (facade), EPS-FS (facade with soundproofing), EPS-T (impact sound), EPS-S (plinth/base), and EPS-P (perimeter/below-grade), with pressure resistance from 60 to 250 kPa and thermal conductivity (λD) between 0.035 and 0.042 W/mK. The principal innovation is the CreaSolv recycling process, developed with the Fraunhofer Institute — a patent-protected solvent-based technology that separates contaminants from mixed EPS waste streams to produce recycled plastics with virgin-grade properties.

GPH's business model is association-based rather than product-based. Revenue (membership dues and quality-seal licensing, not publicly disclosed) is supported by member manufacturers who produce and sell Styropor-branded products through regional distribution channels across Austria. The association operates a nationwide EPS collection service to feed the recycling loop, with a long-term strategic target of 100% circular economy production by 2050. End customers are construction firms, building contractors, and industrial packaging buyers reached indirectly through the manufacturer network. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer only in the sense of consumer education (Werner Gruber videos, fact sheets, social media); actual product sales flow through B2B distribution.

Name

Styropor

Legal name

Güteschutzgemeinschaft Polystyrol-Hartschaum (GPH)

Website

https://styropor.at

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Styropor is the brand of GPH, an Austrian industry association representing EPS insulation and packaging manufacturers. It sets quality standards, licenses the Gütesiegel seal, and operates the CreaSolv recycling process with Fraunhofer, serving construction and industrial packaging markets across Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Building Insulation Materials

NAICS

Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing (32614), Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing (326140)

SIC

Plastics Foam Products (3086)

akta.pro primary industry

Styrenics (PS, EPS, ABS, SAN) (IMAEANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Foam Plastic Insulation (EPS/XPS/PIR/PUR) (IMADAGAD), Foam Protective Packaging (EPS/EPE/EPP, PU, Molded Foam) (IMALAFAA), Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Recycling (EUAIAKAG)

Keywords

• Expanded polystyrene insulation
• Thermal insulation boards
• Facade insulation systems
• Building envelope materials
• Recycled EPS materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Oberwaltersdorf

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. EPS Insulation and Packaging Materials: GPH member manufacturers produce and sell Styropor (EPS) products including thermal insulation boards, facade panels, floor/ceiling insulation, perimeter damping, and specialty packaging materials. Revenue is generated through product sales to construction companies, building contractors, and industrial packaging customers across Austria and Europe.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Styropor is a brand of expanded polystyrene (EPS) rigid foam insulation and packaging materials consisting of 98% air and 2% polystyrene. GPH member manufacturers produce and sell six distinct EPS product families covering standard thermal insulation boards, facade insulation systems, impact sound insulation boards, plinth/base insulation, and below-grade perimeter insulation. Products are distributed through regional member manufacturers across Austria and include the Styropor Gütesiegel (quality seal) backed by the patent-protected CreaSolv® recycling process developed with the Fraunhofer Institute.

Product overview

Styropor (EPS) is a family of expanded polystyrene insulation products manufactured by GPH (Güteschutzgemeinschaft Polystyrol-Hartschaum), an Austrian industry association. The product portfolio consists of six distinct product lines differentiated by application: EPS-W standard insulation boards for general use; EPS-F and EPS-FS facade insulation for exterior walls; EPS-T impact sound insulation for flooring; EPS-S plinth insulation for base applications; and EPS-P perimeter insulation for below-grade foundations. All products consist of 98% air and 2% polystyrene, with pressure resistance ratings ranging from 60 to 250 kPa depending on grade. The latest variant 'graues EPS' contains graphite particles for enhanced thermal insulation performance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Styropor (EPS): The primary product brand representing expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation and packaging materials in Austria.

Products and services

• EPS-W Standard Thermal Insulation Boards

Quantifiable outcome

• 83% share of thermal composite systems (Wärmedämmverbundsysteme) across Europe
• +2 more outcomes

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Fraunhofer InstitutecoreTechnology or IntegrationGPH collaborates with the Fraunhofer Institute on the development of the CreaSolv recycling process, a patent-protected solvent-based technology for recycling EPS and mixed plastic waste streams. This partnership enables the production of recycled plastics with virgin-grade properties from post-consumer and post-industrial EPS materials.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Knauf Insulation: Major European insulation manufacturer producing mineral wool and other solutions for building envelopes. Comparable as a competing incumbent in the same building insulation specification process where Styropor competes.
• Saint-Gobain Isover: Saint-Gobain's mineral wool insulation brand, one of Europe's largest insulation suppliers. Comparable as an alternative insulation incumbent competing for the same building envelope and facade specifications as EPS.
• Rockwool: Global manufacturer of stone wool insulation for buildings, industry, and marine applications. Comparable as a competing incumbent in building envelope insulation, often specified in lieu of EPS in fire-safety-sensitive projects.
• BASF: Original inventor of Styropor (BASF registered the trademark in 1951) and global chemical incumbent producing styrenics and EPS raw materials. Comparable as a broad upstream supplier and historical anchor of the Styropor brand.
• Kingspan Group: Global building envelope manufacturer producing rigid PIR/PUR insulation panels and insulated sheathing. Comparable as a competing high-performance insulation incumbent in the same building envelope specification space.
• Versalis (Eni): Eni's petrochemical subsidiary producing styrenics and EPS resins for European markets. Comparable as an upstream styrenics producer whose products feed the same EPS value chain that Styropor represents.

Direct peers

• Synthos: One of Europe's largest EPS and XPS producers, headquartered in Poland. Directly comparable as a competing EPS manufacturer serving the same insulation and packaging markets across Europe.
• Sunpor: Austrian producer of expandable polystyrene (EPS raw material) and likely GPH member. Direct comparable in product category, geography, and customer base as a regional EPS manufacturer represented by GPH.
• BEWi: Nordic-based vertically integrated manufacturer of EPS packaging and insulation products. Comparable as a peer competing in the same European insulation and protective-packaging specifications as Styropor members.
• EUMEPS (European Manufacturers of Expanded Polystyrene): The European-level industry association for EPS manufacturers, directly comparable to GPH Styropor as a sister Güteschutzgemeinschaft-style body. Both advocate for EPS in insulation and packaging, manage recycling initiatives, and coordinate technical standards across member companies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=3IPG-JVbnik
• Facebookfacebook.com/styropor.gph
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/styropor
• Instagraminstagram.com/styropor_gph

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Styropor