Many shipping stores accept packing peanuts for reuse.
Packing peanuts are commonly used for cushioning and for filling voids in packages prepared for shipment. Known as loose fill, most packing peanuts are made of expanded polystyrene, or EPS, which is a very lightweight petroleum product. While packing peanuts are economical for shippers and do a good job of protecting products from damage, EPS peanuts remain in landfills for up to a hundred years, creating a negative impact for the environment. Alternative packing materials are available for use instead of EPS packing peanuts.
Cornstarch Peanuts
Cornstarch is a lightweight food product made from corn. Peanuts made from cornstarch provide the same void-filling and cushioning effects as EPS peanuts. They also are biodegradable, static-free and FDA-compliant. Compared to EPS peanuts, cornstarch peanuts are more eco-friendly, and they are made from a renewable resource. On the downside, they are not as lightweight as EPS peanuts and they can attract rodents.
Paper
Shredded paper provides an alternative to the use of EPS peanuts for packing and is an effective way to recycle used office paper. Dunnage paper is also an environmentally friendly, renewable resource used for packing. Often made from recycled paper, dunnage paper includes brown kraft paper and newsprint. Crumpled and stuffed, dunnage is effective as void-fill and cushioning. Multi-layer paper made from bonding two or three layers of paper together and slightly crumpling the paper makes a product superior to plain dunnage paper.
Plastic Film
Bubble wrap, a two-ply plastic film with regularly spaced air pockets between the plies, is used to protect delicate items from breakage. Plastic film is also used to create air-filled bags that are very lightweight, provide excellent cushioning properties, and are useful for void-fill. A negative side of plastic as a packing material is its petroleum base.
Foam-in-Place
Static electricity is generated by shifting EPS peanuts, so electronic products are not shipped with this packing material. Foam-in-place is an alternative to EPS peanuts, as foam-in-place molds to the form of the product and prevents shifting, while also insulating the goods. Special equipment is needed for use of foam-in-place packing material. Two chemicals are loaded into a foam gun. When the trigger is pulled, the chemicals combine and a foaming liquid results. Foam is triggered onto a piece of film lining the packing box, with the film length being double the amount needed to line the box. After the bottom of the box is covered with foam, the extra length of film is pulled over the top of the foam and the product is nestled onto the foam bed. The foam continues to expand and shape itself around the product. Another foam envelope is placed on top of the product to create a snug fit.
Cardboard
Proven by the egg industry to protect delicate goods, cardboard is a viable alternative to packing peanuts. One type of cardboard is made from bamboo fiber, a rapidly renewable resource that has gained popularity in recent years with green technology proponents.
