Expanded polyethylene (aka EPE foam) refers to foams made from polyethylene. Typically it is made from expanded pellets ('EPE bead') made with use of a blowing agent, followed by expansion into a mold in a steam chest - the process is similar to that used to make expanded polystyrene foam.

Polyethylene (EPE) foam is a durable, strong and resilient closed‐cell foam. The material starts off as a thermoplastic which is then blown into a foam format. The high compression rates that polyethylene offers, permit it to maintain its resilience under recurrent impact.