You can order polystyrene boxes online from JB Packaging, with samples available for testing and evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find Answers To All Your Questions
General FAQs
Sustainability
Delivery
Where can I buy polystyrene boxes for chilled shipping?
How long can a polystyrene box keep fish cold?
In our tests, a 6kg long EPS box kept fish below 5°C for 72 hours in cold conditions and outperformed cardboard and plastic alternatives in warm conditions too.
Is polystyrene better than waxed cardboard for shipping fish?
Yes. Polystyrene offers superior insulation, keeping contents colder for longer. In our test, it outperformed waxed cardboard by over 12 hours in warm conditions.
Can polystyrene boxes keep products below freezing?
Yes. Our data shows EPS boxes can maintain temperatures below 0°C under the right ambient conditions and with the correct cooling medium.
Are these polystyrene boxes food-safe?
Yes. EPS boxes from JB Packaging are made from food-safe materials and are widely used in seafood and fresh produce transport.
How do I dispose of EPS packaging responsibly?
Reuse is often the best first step - See our ideas above. If disposal is necessary, check the British Plastics Federations EPS Groups - EPS Recyclers Map or Recycle Now or your local authority for EPS recycling options.
Is polystyrene recyclable in the UK?
Yes, Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) can be and is recyclable in the UK, but not typically through kerbside collection. It should be taken to specialist recycling centres or collection points. Always check with your local council.
What is the carbon footprint of EPS compared to other materials?
EPS is lightweight and requires less energy to produce and transport, reducing its overall carbon footprint compared to heavier alternatives like cardboard or rigid plastic.
How is EPS recycled?
At JB Packaging, EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) is recycled in two main ways, depending on its density:
- Granulation – Lighter density EPS is re-ground into beads using a granulator. This material is then blended with virgin material and reintroduced into our manufacturing process—often within just two hours—without compromising product quality.
-
Compacting – Heavier density EPS (over 28g/l) with minimal contamination is compacted into dense, palletised bales. These are then shipped for processing into General Purpose Polystyrene (GPPS) pellets, which are used to make new plastic products.
Why does EPS perform better than cardboard or moulded pulp in lifecycle studies?
Because the performance of EPS insulation is superior to other materials, plus it's durable, and highly protective. The TNO 2025 study showed that even small increases in product damage rates from less protective materials (like cardboard) drastically increase overall climate impact. Preventing food from spoiling and damage is more important than packaging composition alone. <em>(Source: TNO 2025)</em>
How much energy and water does it take to recycle cardboard fibres?
According to the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI), recycling paper and cardboard saves around 60% of the energy compared to using virgin fibres. However, the process still requires water to pulp and clean the fibres on average, about 10,000 litres of water per tonne of recycled paper is used.
In short, while cardboard recycling is more efficient than making new paper, it is not without environmental costs, especially when compared to closed-loop recycling systems like EPS (Expanded Polystyrene), which require no water in reprocessing.
Source: Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI), Paper Recycling Monitoring Report (2023).
Can cardboard fibres be recycled over and over, or is there a limit?
Cardboard fibres cannot be recycled indefinitely. Each time paper or cardboard is recycled, the fibres become shorter and weaker. On average, cardboard fibres can be recycled 5 to 7 times before they degrade too much to be reused. At that stage, virgin fibres from sustainably managed forests must be added to maintain strength and quality in new cardboard products.
This natural fibre degradation is one of the reasons why fibre-based packaging cannot achieve a fully circular system on its own, unlike materials such as Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), which can be recycled over and over without losing its core properties.
Source: Recycle Now (UK Government’s Waste & Resources Action Programme, WRAP).
Can I choose a specific delivery date or time?
Unfortunately, we are unable to guarantee specific delivery dates or times. While most orders are delivered within 2–4 working days, exact timing is managed by our courier partners and can vary based on location, order size, and seasonal demand. If you need your order by a certain date, we recommend ordering early and contacting us to discuss your options.
Do you ship poly boxes outside of the UK?
We currently only deliver to UK mainland addresses.
Can I collect my order from your Northampton site?
No, we currently do not offer order collection from our Northampton manufacturing site. All orders are shipped directly to your delivery address using our trusted courier partners. If you have specific fulfilment requirements, feel free to contact us and we’ll do our best to assist.
Can I collect my order from your Torpoint site in Cornwall?
No — we no longer offer order collections from our Torpoint site in Cornwall. All orders are now fulfilled and shipped from our Northampton manufacturing site. We’ve centralised our operations to streamline delivery and improve service. If you need your order urgently, please get in touch and we’ll do our best to help.
Will my entire order arrive together?
Multiple Items & Split Shipments: If your order contains different product types, they may be shipped from different warehouses and could arrive separately.
You will receive an email confirmation with full order details and your invoice attached.
General FAQs
Where can I buy polystyrene boxes for chilled shipping?
You can order polystyrene boxes online from JB Packaging, with samples available for testing and evaluation.
How long can a polystyrene box keep fish cold?
In our tests, a 6kg long EPS box kept fish below 5°C for 72 hours in cold conditions and outperformed cardboard and plastic alternatives in warm conditions too.
Is polystyrene better than waxed cardboard for shipping fish?
Yes. Polystyrene offers superior insulation, keeping contents colder for longer. In our test, it outperformed waxed cardboard by over 12 hours in warm conditions.
Can polystyrene boxes keep products below freezing?
Yes. Our data shows EPS boxes can maintain temperatures below 0°C under the right ambient conditions and with the correct cooling medium.
Are these polystyrene boxes food-safe?
Yes. EPS boxes from JB Packaging are made from food-safe materials and are widely used in seafood and fresh produce transport.
Sustainability
How do I dispose of EPS packaging responsibly?
Reuse is often the best first step - See our ideas above. If disposal is necessary, check the British Plastics Federations EPS Groups - EPS Recyclers Map or Recycle Now or your local authority for EPS recycling options.
Is polystyrene recyclable in the UK?
Yes, Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) can be and is recyclable in the UK, but not typically through kerbside collection. It should be taken to specialist recycling centres or collection points. Always check with your local council.
What is the carbon footprint of EPS compared to other materials?
EPS is lightweight and requires less energy to produce and transport, reducing its overall carbon footprint compared to heavier alternatives like cardboard or rigid plastic.
How is EPS recycled?
At JB Packaging, EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) is recycled in two main ways, depending on its density:
- Granulation – Lighter density EPS is re-ground into beads using a granulator. This material is then blended with virgin material and reintroduced into our manufacturing process—often within just two hours—without compromising product quality.
-
Compacting – Heavier density EPS (over 28g/l) with minimal contamination is compacted into dense, palletised bales. These are then shipped for processing into General Purpose Polystyrene (GPPS) pellets, which are used to make new plastic products.
Why does EPS perform better than cardboard or moulded pulp in lifecycle studies?
Because the performance of EPS insulation is superior to other materials, plus it's durable, and highly protective. The TNO 2025 study showed that even small increases in product damage rates from less protective materials (like cardboard) drastically increase overall climate impact. Preventing food from spoiling and damage is more important than packaging composition alone. <em>(Source: TNO 2025)</em>
How much energy and water does it take to recycle cardboard fibres?
According to the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI), recycling paper and cardboard saves around 60% of the energy compared to using virgin fibres. However, the process still requires water to pulp and clean the fibres on average, about 10,000 litres of water per tonne of recycled paper is used.
In short, while cardboard recycling is more efficient than making new paper, it is not without environmental costs, especially when compared to closed-loop recycling systems like EPS (Expanded Polystyrene), which require no water in reprocessing.
Source: Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI), Paper Recycling Monitoring Report (2023).
Can cardboard fibres be recycled over and over, or is there a limit?
Cardboard fibres cannot be recycled indefinitely. Each time paper or cardboard is recycled, the fibres become shorter and weaker. On average, cardboard fibres can be recycled 5 to 7 times before they degrade too much to be reused. At that stage, virgin fibres from sustainably managed forests must be added to maintain strength and quality in new cardboard products.
This natural fibre degradation is one of the reasons why fibre-based packaging cannot achieve a fully circular system on its own, unlike materials such as Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), which can be recycled over and over without losing its core properties.
Source: Recycle Now (UK Government’s Waste & Resources Action Programme, WRAP).
Delivery
Can I choose a specific delivery date or time?
Unfortunately, we are unable to guarantee specific delivery dates or times. While most orders are delivered within 2–4 working days, exact timing is managed by our courier partners and can vary based on location, order size, and seasonal demand. If you need your order by a certain date, we recommend ordering early and contacting us to discuss your options.
Do you ship poly boxes outside of the UK?
We currently only deliver to UK mainland addresses.
Can I collect my order from your Northampton site?
No, we currently do not offer order collection from our Northampton manufacturing site. All orders are shipped directly to your delivery address using our trusted courier partners. If you have specific fulfilment requirements, feel free to contact us and we’ll do our best to assist.
Can I collect my order from your Torpoint site in Cornwall?
No — we no longer offer order collections from our Torpoint site in Cornwall. All orders are now fulfilled and shipped from our Northampton manufacturing site. We’ve centralised our operations to streamline delivery and improve service. If you need your order urgently, please get in touch and we’ll do our best to help.
Will my entire order arrive together?
Multiple Items & Split Shipments: If your order contains different product types, they may be shipped from different warehouses and could arrive separately.
You will receive an email confirmation with full order details and your invoice attached.