Anti-static peanuts eliminate static cling, making peanuts go where they are supposed to go - and stay there. Website Last Modified July 30, 2022. Not only do people find them irritating, but they are also harmful to the environment. Because foam-in-place offers a wide range of on-demand and pre-mold dispensing systems and foams come in several densities, it is an excellent choice for repair and refurbishing operations and packaging any heavy and/or fragile product. The production of polystyrene packing peanuts is also typically harmful to the environment. recyclable These materials are made of corrugated cardboard boxes and paper recycled by consumers and larger industrial companies. For more information on the Postal Services cookie policies and how the Postal Service uses cookies to improve your experience on usps.com and its affiliated websites, including uspsdelivers.com, please see our Privacy Policy. Thomasnet Is A Registered Trademark Of Thomas Publishing Please note: Photos and the USPS logo may not be altered or used apart from this site. Maybe it was just packed too tight? Sometimes the pressure of other heavy boxes thrown on top may cause breakage if packed to tight. Mushroom foam. So sorry that happened. biodegradable ecoflo 127l 210l I ship a ton of fragile items every month and need something that will absorb impact and prevent motion inside the box. With a higher weight than traditional packing peanuts, the eco-friendly version increases shipping costs. This website uses cookies that help the website to function and also to track how you interact with our website. Every application is different, but the odds are at least one of these alternatives can be integrated into an existing packaging line configuration. The materials can also be recycled themselves. However, by having the perfect sized boxes for your products, you can eliminate, or at least reduce the amount of packing material you need. Some are made from recycled polythene, which lessons greenhouse emissions by using less plastic in the manufacturing process. Registered in England and Wales. styrofoam Shoe Horn? Coconuts have innumerable benefits, both as a food and drink source and as a packing material. Peanuts can alter their collective arrangement and density to take on the many shapes needed to fill loose spaces. When stuff stops moving/rattling, I stop. uboxes See You could always wrap your product in recycled paper first if you want to ensure no popcorn-dust collects on your product. Informa Markets, a trading division of Informa PLC. All packing materials moving forward will be 100% recyclable. packing peanuts material cardboard styrofoam yellow box napa recycling Some other changes we plan to make in the future include implementing various recycling programs, working with eco-friendly non-profits, and sourcing from local vendors or those who use upcycled ingredients. Every now and then, I pick up the box and shake it around. Biodegradable packing peanuts are made from natural, nontoxic sources, such as wheat and corn starch. Whichever option you choose though, you will be doing more good for the environment than you would have been using Styrofoam peanuts. Similar in concept to inflatable air bags, multi-layer paper systems bond together two or three plies of paper and slightly crumple them on-site to create variable or predetermined lengths of cushioning/void fill material. Though it wont look quite as smart, it will still be an effective packing mechanism, and you could even leave a little note in each of the boxes to customers detailing why you pack in this way that way, if they are, Business owners want to know that the alternatives will just as efficiently prevent damage to your product as the Styrofoam peanuts did. Instead of listing the matching ones together (I didnt have complete / full sets of anything), I listed them separately so I wouldnt have to ship them together. Since they are made of polystyrene, traditional loose-fill packing peanuts take a long time to decompose. polystyrene packing peanuts fill void box loose code They come in recycled paper holders. However, its just as effective, often cheaper, and once again you can always leave a note explaining why you use popcorn to pack products. Copyright 2022 Thomas Publishing Company. E: info@ribble-pack.co.uk. After disposal, they often end up in a landfill or floating around the ocean for many, many years, making them harmful to the Earth. This topic has 11 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated. Is Polystyrene a Sustainable Food Packaging Choice? That goes into a plastic bag to keep it all together and safe from wet. peanuts packing Production also has higher costs than traditional packing peanuts, and in a challenging economy, many consumers and suppliers will often choose reduced costs over greener, more expensive alternatives. Foam-in-place offers superior cushioning and block-and-brace performance, which is why it is often used for consumer electronics packaging. Where I work we replaced peanuts with air pillows they require an upfront investment of a machine to make the pillows (I think it was almost $2000) but after that you just need to buy cheap rolls of film. If any of you have shipped pyrex, I would love to know how you did with it. Newspaper would be the obviohs replacement, but it isnt all that effective in my opinion and it can get quite heavy. ), biodegradable packing peanuts provide virtually the same experience as their foam counterparts., Besides their end-of-life being far more environmentally friendly than foam varieties, biodegradable packing peanuts can also be manufactured with the use of fewer resources, and produce fewer emissions throughout the process., Do you want to go plastic-free? Thats how I like to ship Pyrex and Fire King. To improve your online experience, the Postal Service uses cookies on our website to remember user preferences, tailor banner advertisements to your interests, and ensure a smooth shopping experience. Find and evaluate OEMs, Custom Manufacturers, Service Companies and Distributors. The packing paper is deposited out of a machine that is much easier for the workers to use and much more efficient. The natural material, Peat Moss, will provide a springy protective layer around your product. When used in bulk, packing peanuts act as a self-correcting packing material that can shift and tumble to fill air gaps. packing peanuts fillmore container purchase needs piece bags Along with more stringent regulations regarding the disposal of industrial/manufacturing waste, the creation of plastic alternatives has helped to slow the production of plastics., 5 Things Everyone Should Know About Compostable Plastics, Like other eco-friendly alternatives (i.e. Theyre also biodegradable. Manufacturers of packing peanuts continue to develop alternative products at a rapid clip in an effort to minimize these various drawbacks. Packing peanuts make poor void fill because they settle in the box. Has anyone out there found a viable alternative to using packing peanuts for shipping? I really thought (after the first disaster) that I needed to make sure it was secure so I packed it up very tightly in a styrofoam sandwich (separating the lid from the base) but I think that with no give it had no where to go when there was shock so it broke. I did have it labeled fragile and I did have insurance so I got the money back but still, no fun. So, here are the five best styrofoam peanut alternatives we believe business owners should trial packing their products in. Polystyrene foam contains likely cancer-causing chemicals that can leach into the food and drinks they hold, making them dangerous to consumers. But for us to provide the best user experience, enable the specific cookies from Settings, and click on Accept. While there are many ways to help a business go green, packaging provides a number of eco-friendly options. Though some polystyrene peanuts can be recycled/reused, many are never properly disposed of or simply littered/dumped., Learn More About Compostable Plastics Here, Like other lightweight litter (i.e. My local convenience store sells a lot of those freel milkshakes. Whatever the materialcornstarch, recycled paper, even mushroomsa green packaging solution is available on the market today. Businesses can lessen their impact on the environment by starting an open dialogue with their current packaging providers. Is it still there? Putting unbuttered popcorn into your boxes sounds like an odd thing to do. Cornstarch peanuts can protect and support items when shipped and can fit almost any-size shipping container. ecoflo Many people will appreciate this more than they will unnecessary packing peanuts exploding onto their kitchen floor. Yet loose fill packing peanuts are still around, despite their drawbacks. They will appreciate this easy method of disposal and the space you have saved in their bins or recycling requirements. Lots of major online retailers and shipping companies have made the switch from the humble packing peanut to other means of padding and protecting sensitive or delicate items during transit.. Nevertheless, it can be difficult to know where to start when looking for viable alternatives to packing peanuts. The color and shape of foam peanuts sometimes indicate what they are made of and who made it. Packing peanuts, also known as Polystyrene foam, is a threat to our waterways, ecosystems, and our health. In this free ebook, learn how to leverage the strengths of each generation in your packaging department. Biodegradable means that something can be broken down by bacteria, water, or another living thing, and therefore wont remain in landfills for thousands of years like polystyrene products. This team would be responsible for researching and implementing the best possible way for outbound shipments to go out, all while being completely recyclable. biodegradable ecoflo By using their recycled forms, companies lessen their carbon footprint. At the end of the day, loose fill of any variety is still messy and lags behind competitive products in cushioning and void fill performance. I use large, generic boxes for my cardboard stash. Connect and transact with thousands of top North American companies today The most significant disadvantage of biodegradable peanuts is their cost, as their production also costs more than the creation of conventional polystyrene packing peanuts. OL4 1DF (Satnav OL4 1FN), T: 0161 284 9000 Credit Card Sided with Customer but eBay sided with me! New actives can be sourced in plant/fruit throwaways, Polystyrene foam is bad for your body and the environment. file size: 50 MB. Keep reading to find out., Traditional foam packing peanuts are made from polystyrene, a material commonly used to make foams and certain hard plastic products, also referred to as Styrofoam., Polystyrene packing peanuts interlock within a package, filling in the gaps to provide additional compression, padding, and support during transit without adding significant weight to the package., Packing peanuts are also very versatile, and can easily be used for packages of every size without extensive alterations to the packing materials., Despite their utility, foam packing peanuts have become a thorn in the side of consumers and environmentalists around the world, helping to initiate a decline in their popularity., Polystyrene foam is non-biodegradable, and like other resins, it can take hundreds of years to begin to degrade in a landfill environment. However, by having the perfect sized boxes for your products, you can eliminate, or at least reduce the amount of packing material you need. One of the major reasons for the switch: environmental concerns. We are a corelle, paper plate, tervis tumbler type of family, with a cat that pushes stuff off the table. Entirely plant-based, biodegradable packing peanuts will dissolve in water, making it impossible for them to wind up polluting oceans, lakes, rivers, or waterways., That said, should a wild critter get ahold of one of these starchy-puffs, they wont experience any significant health risks should they choose to chow down., Unlike foam packing peanuts, which can take centuries to decompose, biodegradable packing peanuts can be dissolved in just minutes when exposed to moisture and warmth.. Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. They dissolve in water and can be added to compost piles after a single-use, making the main advantage of these packing peanuts their benefit to the planet. They save them for me. Pros:Composed of polystyrene, a plastic polymer better known as Styrofoam, traditional loose fill packing peanuts are difficult to decompose. Select From Over 500,000 Industrial Suppliers. Home Forums Shipping: The Final Frontier Alternatives to Packing Peanuts. This is a good question, since most companies wont include a note letting you know whether their packing is eco-friendly or not. Contrary to popular perception, foam-in-place is safe and all materials are easily recycled by the consumer. Numerous packaging companies offer this eco-friendly option. Biodegradable packing peanuts wont get staticky or stick to clothes, electronics, other packaging materials, etc., Finally, do the water test: drop a peanut in a glass of warm water and see how it reacts. Due to their low production costs and ability to protect items in standard-size corrugated shipping containers, eliminating the need to raise costs for customized boxes, consumers and suppliers continue to choose packing peanuts. We are pleased to announce to you a recent change that has been implemented. You can purchase, Alternatively, if you cant afford to get your boxes personalised to fit your products, consider collecting waste paper and cardboard for shedding. The main goal of the initiative was to eliminate all packing peanuts and replace it with 100% recyclable materials. I double box the really fragile stuff. They dissolve in water and can be thrown into compost piles after a single use. We still have a long way to go in increasing our environmental sustainability, but were proud to have taken the first step. Here are four of the best. Is there anything you would like to see us do in the future? Pryex Bowls: So today Im listing about 10 of my vintage Pyrex bowls. What ways do you decrease your environmental impact? However, some companies are working on biodegradable alternatives to starch-based peanuts that are not water-soluble, so this may not always be a con. Find materials, components, equipment, MRO supplies and more. Company. Despite not being as omnipresent in consumer products, packing peanuts are still commonly used in industrial settings, and by some consumer electronics and lifestyle manufacturers. Since it isnt a particularly well-known method either you might be worried about what your customers will think. Biodegradable packing peanuts are made from natural sources, giving them the benefit of being non-toxic if accidentally consumed by a person or animal, as opposed to polystyrene peanuts, which are typically toxic. Paper peanuts are heavy, dusty, and hard to handle in bulk. Because this product is grown, its also highly customizable and perfect for any number of businesses. We concluded that the Kraft paper + bubble bags would be the best way to send outbound shipments. Moreover, it is easy for your customer to dispose of them after they have unpacked their goods. Most dunnage papers have 100% post-consumer recycled content and are easily recycled. Any thoughts? The team also wanted to factor in cost, extra equipment, and recyclability. Whats Happening in Digital Printing for Packaging? In addition, biodegradable foam peanuts do not have an electrostatic charge, meaning they will not stick to clothes. uses peanuts packing creative cleaning tips diy thisoldhouse peanut source snips However, the team was not convinced that paper alone could replace both the peanuts and bubble bags, especially for items with a nozzle or special closures. 10+ million models from leading OEMs, compatible with all major CAD software systems. We will no longer use packing peanuts in any of our shipments, nor will they be used for anything else. And polystyrene peanuts can be made less harmful to the environment since many recycling programs accept them. With an extensive background in B2B and the packaging industry, he specializes in sales coaching and training, online marketing strategy, and business blog development. Recycled peanuts, made from various recipes of post-consumer foams, set a good environmental example for reuse. ), We went on to research the best alternative to packing peanuts and found that Kraft paper is one of the most sustainable and cost-effective resources to use as shipping material. In October 2018, a Sustainable Development Team consisting of a rep from our Warehouse, Purchasing, and Marketing was formed. I pack in the large bubble wrap, then sandwich between cardboard pieces cut to fit, then bubble wrap again, and then float on air pillows. Privacy Statement and Inflatable systems require a modest capital investment, but large volume packers can negotiate discounts on equipment by entering in long term contracts with the manufacturer. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. Several manufacturers offer systems which inflate small polyethylene air bags on demand or in batches. Joe: Yes, that is a good method and I use it often. Businesses can work with packaging manufacturing companies to find environmentally friendly solutions made with a high proportion of recycled paper. Their manufacture is also safer. The environmentally-friendly alternative to polystyrene packing peanuts is biodegradable peanuts, generally made out of starch, one of the most abundant organic polymers on Earth. Trash to Cash. Packaging Digest is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC. Biodegradable starch-based packing peanuts are, of course, the environmentally-friendly option, but they do have some disadvantages compared to traditional packing peanuts. Spread the knowledge, but be sure to credit us when you do. Packing peanuts present a host of problems for packers and package recipients alike. In a challenging economy, many manufacturers and suppliers often choose reduced costs over the greener but more expensive alternatives. This color-coding does, however, sometimes vary by company. Additionally, biodegradable foam peanuts do not have an electrostatic charge, meaning they will not damage electronics during shipping, or stick to clothes. This is especially important if you are packing any form of technology, where there are charging port nooks that you wouldnt want dust to collect in. Stay up to date on industry news and trends, product announcements and the latest innovations. Their name comes from the fact that they are roughly the size and shape of an unshelled peanut. The fibers in the mushroom bind the waste creating a solid end product. We have a corporate social responsibility to become a more sustainable brand, and eliminating packing peanuts is just the first step. 90% of consumers say that companies and brands have a responsibility to take care of the planet and its people (via JWT The New Sustainability: Regeneration), and we couldnt agree more. Top Packaging Companies and Suppliers in the USA, The Best Hoists for Jeep Hardtop, According to 3,000+ Customer Reviews, The Best Pegboard Hooks and Accessories, According to 10,000+ Customer Reviews, The Best Workbench for the Garage, According to 32,000+ Customer Reviews, Top Stainless Steel Tank Manufacturers in the USA, Top Pallet Manufacturers and Suppliers in the USA, Easter Island's Statues Have Bodies Beneath the Surface, From Alpaca to Crocodile, This Startup is Serving Up the Next Big Thing in Lab-grown Meat, Apple's New Software Lets You Buy Gas from the Comfort of Your Car, Molded Products Manufacturer Announces $5 Million Expansion.