The quick answer: Not really. Standard bean bag filling is expanded polystyrene (EPS). It's a plastic made from oil and gas, it doesn't break down, and a lot of council polystyrene drop-offs won't take loose bean bag beads. What you can do is buy less of it, keep the beans you already have, and make sure they never end up loose outside.
We've been selling bean bag covers, liners and filling for 15 years, and this is one of the questions we get asked most. I'd rather give you a straight answer than dress it up, so this post covers what the beans are made of, where they're a problem, how the alternatives compare, and what actually makes a difference.
If you're after polystyrene in general (packaging, takeaway containers, insulation), that's covered in is polystyrene environmentally friendly? This one is just about bean bags.
What is bean bag filling made of?
Nearly every bean bag in Australia is filled with EPS beads. They start out as tiny hard pellets of polystyrene with a little pentane inside. Steam heats them and they puff up into the light white beads you know. The finished bead is about 98% air.
That's why a 100 litre box weighs next to nothing. It's also why EPS works so well in a bean bag. It moulds to you, springs back, doesn't soak up water and doesn't go mouldy. If you want the full process, we've written up how polystyrene bean bag filling is made.
Where it falls short
It comes from fossil fuels. Polystyrene is made from styrene, which comes from oil and gas. Every new box of filling is new plastic.
It doesn't biodegrade. Over time EPS just breaks into smaller pieces, and those pieces end up as microplastic in soil and waterways.
Loose beads get away from you. To us this is the biggest problem. One bead weighs almost nothing, it's full of static and the slightest breeze carries it. Refill on a windy deck or leave a split liner in the yard and you can lose thousands of beads in a few minutes. You won't get them back.
Recycling loose beads is hard. EPS can be recycled, but most polystyrene recycling here is set up for clean blocks of packaging foam, not loose beads. Some councils spell it out. Wollongong says bean bag beans "are not able to be accepted for recycling". Lake Macquarie and Surf Coast Shire both list bean bag beads as not accepted. None of them want polystyrene in the yellow bin.
Where it's better than its reputation
None of that makes EPS the worst option every time. A few things count in its favour.
- Good beans outlast the bean bag. Covers usually wear out well before decent beans do, so one lot of filling can go through a few covers.
- It's light. For the space it fills, it weighs a fraction of beans, rice or buckwheat.
- It copes with the wet. EPS doesn't rot or get bugs in it, which is why it's the fill we use for outdoor bean bags and pool bean bags. Natural fillers would go mouldy out there and need replacing.
- It's inert. Sitting on it doesn't release anything harmful. There's more on that in is polystyrene toxic?
So EPS is a long-lasting plastic, and most of the harm happens when it's thrown out too often or escapes. The less new filling you buy and the better you look after what you've got, the smaller the footprint.
How the alternatives compare
No filling is perfect. This is roughly how the main ones compare.
| Filling | Made from | Breaks down? | How long it lasts | Outdoors or damp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPS beads (new) | Fossil-based plastic | No | Years, often longer than the cover | Good |
| Recycled EPS (crushed foam) | Reused polystyrene | No | Flattens and gets lumpy sooner | Good |
| Plant-based beads (PLA) | Plant starch | Only in commercial composting | Depends on the product | Check with the maker |
| Shredded foam | Usually polyurethane | No | Long, but can clump | Poor, holds water |
| Buckwheat, beans or rice | Crops | Yes | Short in humid weather | Poor, mould and bugs |
| Fabric offcuts | Old textiles | Depends on the fibre | OK, but lumpy | Poor |
Plant-based beads are the closest thing to EPS for feel, and they don't use oil or gas. The best-known ones here are Envee beans, made in Melbourne from Ingeo, a plant-based PLA. Envee says Ingeo uses less non-renewable energy and puts out less greenhouse gas than standard beans when it's made. The beads are a bit bigger than EPS, so they feel a little different. Keep in mind that PLA needs a commercial composting facility to break down. It won't break down in your backyard compost, and not every council organics service takes it. Ask your council before you count on it being compostable.
Recycled EPS sounds like the obvious green choice, but crushed foam wears out faster than round beads. If you end up refilling twice as often, most of the benefit goes. It's fine for a bean bag that doesn't get much use, or for topping one up.
Natural fillers do break down, but they're heavy, and in our humidity they can get bugs and mould. They suit small cushions more than a chair you sit in every day.
There's more detail in what alternative bean bag fillers are there? and our bean bag filler comparison.
How to cut the impact of your filling
These make far more difference than which bead you buy.
Keep your beans when you replace a cover
If your cover is faded or torn, or you're just sick of the colour, you don't need new filling. Our covers come unfilled and any standard EPS filling fits them, so you can move your old beans straight into the new one. That saves more new plastic than anything else on this list.
Use an inner liner
A bean bag inner liner keeps the beans sealed in their own bag. You can take the outer cover off to wash or swap it without touching a single bead. If the cover ever splits, the beans stay put.
Top it up instead of starting again
Bean bags lose volume as the beads settle. A box of top-up filling brings the shape back and uses far less than a full refill. Our refill guide and filling calculator will tell you how much you need.
Fill it inside
Do it in a dry room with the windows shut. Never on a balcony or in the yard. Pour slowly into the liner and zip it up as you go. If the beads are sticking to everything, try these tips for getting rid of static.
Buy filling locally if you can
Filling is light but bulky, so it takes up a lot of truck space for not much product. If a shop near you has it, buy it there. It's usually cheaper for you too. If you can't find any locally, our bean bag filling goes out from Brisbane.
Buy the right bean bag for where it'll live
An indoor bean bag left out in the sun and rain doesn't last, and then it gets replaced. If it's going outside or by the pool, get one made for that.
What to do with old beans
- Reuse them in a new cover, a smaller bean bag or a floor cushion.
- Give them away. Clean beans on Marketplace or a local buy swap sell group usually get picked up by someone, whether that's a school, a crafter or another bean bag owner.
- Ask your council. A few drop-offs might take them, but plenty won't, so check before you load up the car.
- If none of that works, seal them up. Squeeze the air out of a strong plastic bag, tie it off tight and put it in the general waste bin, not recycling. That's what Lake Macquarie council recommends, and it stops the beads blowing out of the bin or the truck.
There's more on this in are bean bag beans recyclable? and how to dispose of a bean bag chair.
Is bean bag filling banned in Australia?
Not that we can find. The state plastic bans vary, but they go after single-use items like polystyrene takeaway containers, cups and plates, and loose packing peanuts. Queensland's list of banned items doesn't include bean bag filling, for example. A bean bag isn't single use. It's furniture you keep for years.
Why we still sell EPS filling
We sell standard EPS filling because it's still the most practical fill for indoor, outdoor and pool bean bags. It's light, it's comfortable, it handles the weather and it lasts. We won't call it eco-friendly, because it isn't. What we can do is help you buy less of it and get as many years as possible out of every bean bag you own.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put bean bag beans in my recycling bin?
No. Councils generally don't take polystyrene in kerbside recycling, and loose beads contaminate everything else in the bin. Reuse them or give them away first. If you have to throw them out, seal them in a bag and put them in general waste.
Is EPS bean bag filling toxic?
No. The beads are inert and don't give anything off when you sit on them. The real risk is a small child or a pet swallowing loose beads, so use a liner with a lockable zip.
Are plant-based bean bag beans better for the environment?
They don't use oil or gas, which is a genuine plus. Most need commercial composting to break down, though, so check how they're certified and whether your council takes them.
Is recycled bean bag filling more eco-friendly?
Not always. Crushed foam flattens faster than round beads, so you might end up refilling more often. It's fine for a bean bag that doesn't get used much, or for a top-up.
How long does bean bag filling last?
Good EPS beans last years and usually outlive the cover. They do settle, so most bean bags need a top-up now and then rather than a full refill. More on that in how often should I change bean bag beans?
So, is it eco-friendly?
On its own, no. It's a durable plastic that doesn't break down and is hard to recycle as loose beads. How much harm it does is mostly up to how it's used. Keep your beans, put them in a liner, refill inside and don't let them escape, and one lot of filling can last through several covers over many years. That's a lot better than replacing a whole bean bag every time it wears out.
