Thermocol is another name for Polystyrene, it’s a synthetic aromatic (benzene derivative) polymer made from the monomer styrene (a monomer is a molecule that may bind chemically to other molecules to form a polymer. Hence the name Polystyrene).
It can be either solid, or foam like (styrofoam!), and because of it’s resilience is often used in protective packaging – CD and DVD cases, and styrofoam peanuts.
It is most assuredly not environmentally friendly, it doesn’t degrade for hundreds of years, and is resistant to photolysis.
