They came from a cardboard box…

Here at Eco-Products, our team recently received a package stuffed to the brim with foam packing peanuts. Many shippers still rely on these staticky little nuggets to protect items, but as Eco-Products reps please don’t! Let’s get to the bottom of the greener packing options out there.

Styrofoam, or polystyrene foam, does not biodegrade naturally, and finding recycling facilities that will accept it typically poses a challenge. Like Styrofoam cups and dishes, the traditional packing peanuts create needless waste and are made from petroleum, a non-renewable resource – not to mention, they escape very easily and are nearly impossible to keep contained.

Luckily there are better options out there for packing your valuables and sample products!

Biodegradable Packing Peanuts

Degradable packing peanuts made from plant starches provide an alternative to traditional Styrofoam peanuts. Many of these items are shaped like traditional packing peanuts – which are shaped to interlock when compressed and free flow when not compressed. If these get wet, they dissolve. However, they are expensive and it can be hard to tell them apart from conventional foam.

Strangely enough, plan unbuttered popcorn also works as a packing material, although, since it crumbles, it can get messy.

Natural Materials

Pea straw and fibers extracted from coconut husks also provide soft cushioning for items being shipped. Afterward, the recipient can use both materials in compost or mulch. Keep in mind that coconut husk fibers generally make less mess, and straw could pose a problem for someone with allergies. Sphagnum moss has long been used as a packing material as well, as it clumps densely together to provide a springy texture.

Reused Products

Reusing other products as packaging also provides a more eco-friendly alternative to traditional packing peanuts. Crumpled newspaper can serve as packing material, for example, and can be recycled later. Paper that has been shredded after use also provides a viable option. Alternatively, you can cut strips of cardboard, roll them up, and place them around the item you’re packaging to add cushioning.

Household Items

If you’re packing your own belongings for a move, wrap delicate items in clothes and blankets, and use pillows for extra padding. Packing your clothes around fragile items will conserve space, too, making moving less work. If you’re shipping an item to someone else, wrapping it loosely in a plain white sheet looks at least as professional as stuffing it into a mountain of loose peanuts.

Reduced Package Size

Reducing package size when possible will reduce the need for packing materials while minimizing the space the package takes up during travel. With a non-fragile item like a book, choose a box that fits the item as closely as possible. This additional step further reduces a package’s carbon footprint, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Learn About Fun Ways To Reuse Packing Peanuts

http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/blogs/save-money/recycle-packing-peanuts-460909