Packing peanuts are used to prevent damage to delicate items during shipping. They are made from polystyrene or biodegradable materials. Styrofoam became popular in the mid-20th century due to its strength and lightness. Companies are now using recycled plastic and corn starch peanuts to be more environmentally friendly. Companies and consumers can recycle and reuse peanuts.
Packing peanuts are small, loosely S-shaped pieces of styrofoam that are included in the packaging of delicate items to prevent damage. Some versions resemble real peanuts more than others—other common shapes include pipes and 8s. They are used to fill gaps in shipping boxes so items don’t move or slide around in transit and get damaged. In addition to being made from polystyrene, they are also sometimes made from biodegradable materials, in response to consumer concerns about polystyrene being sent to landfill, where it can take up a lot of space and take centuries to biodegrade.
A variety of materials known as bulk fill have been used for centuries to pack items for shipping. Hay and wood chips were common until the mid-20th century, when advances in plastics made Styrofoam a viable alternative to traditional packing materials. When packing with organic materials, companies had to risk their packages being infested with pests, and things like newspapers didn’t always protect the items being shipped, as well as having a tendency to compress during shipping.
Packing peanuts are lightweight yet strong enough not to break during the shipping process. Incredibly cheap to make, they quickly flooded the packaging market and companies around the world began using them to ship everything from books to fruit. They seemed like the ideal solution to the problem of shipping sensitive items long distances, until landfill space concerns began to arise. Like other plastics, polystyrene takes a long time to degrade.
Several companies have started making these cushioning materials from recycled plastic, which has been a welcome first step. Peanut swaps also began to spring up: companies receiving items packed in peanuts could take them, bagged, to an exchange where companies in need of packing materials could pick them up and recycle them into their own packages. In addition, corn starch packaging materials have been developed. Cornstarch peanuts are totally biodegradable, as anyone who has run one under hot water knows. They are as efficient as plastic and can be used and reused before they run out.
Companies continue to use Styrofoam peanuts to protect their products during shipping, even as most try to use them in an environmentally friendly way. Consumers who receive things packed with peanuts can usually find a local delivery point for them or can reuse them when sending packages to others. Most shipping companies are happy to accept recycled peanuts, and internet listings can be used to help consumers who are having trouble getting rid of packaging materials.
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