Your refrigerator example got me thinking about an idea I had for insulation the other day. Why not use popcorn? It has the same basic properties of polystyrene insulation. Biggest problem I can see with it is that if the bugs get to it, your fridge is dunzo. Turns out I'm not the only one to think of this. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/popcorn-home-insulation-gottingen-university-b1962592.html
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popcorn and foamed styrene are both things that produce air pockets. And these slow down heat transfer.
popcorn is way less efficient than the stuff they use in refrigerators.
Further, the stuff wilts and compacts over time.
The vibration of the compressor in the refrigerator would speed that up.
It is not a good use case for popcorn.
However, whomever is assembling the refrigerator could use popcorn. There is nothing stopping them. And it may be essential if chemical foam isn't available.
This is one of the things about distributed manufacturing. Between one refrigerator and the next, there doesn't have to be any similarity.