Polystyrene, or High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS), is a versatile plastic that is low cost and easily thermoformed or fabricated. A synthetic hydrocarbon polymer, polystyrene can be solid or foamed. General-purpose polystyrene is clear, hard, brittle or rigid. When combined with various colorants, additives or other plastics, polystyrene is used to make a wide variety of consumer products; such as, appliances, electronics, automobile parts, toys, food packaging, equipment and more.