| Packing peanuts present a host of problems for | | | | negotiate discounts on equipment by entering in |
| packers and package recipients alike. Peanuts - | | | | long term contracts with the manufacturer. |
| technically known as expanded polystyrene loose | | | | Dunnage papers. Moving from hi tech to no tech, |
| fill - are messy, marginally effective for void filling | | | | industrial papers such as brown kraft paper and |
| and cushioning, and exceedingly difficult to recycle | | | | newsprint continue to be an appealing option for |
| or dispose of. | | | | void fill and cushioning. Paper is inexpensive, easy |
| Manufacturers of packing peanuts continue to | | | | to handle, and fast to apply. Most dunnage papers |
| develop alternative products at a rapid clip in an | | | | have 100% post-consumer recycled content and |
| effort to minimize these various drawbacks. | | | | are easily recycled. Paper conveys a strong and |
| Anti-static peanuts eliminate static cling, making | | | | positive message to the environmentally minded |
| peanuts go where they are supposed to go - and | | | | consumer. |
| stay there. Biodegradable peanuts, usually corn | | | | Foam-in-place systems. These systems mix two |
| starch based, dissolve in water and produce no | | | | liquid chemicals in a polyethylene bag on-site to |
| toxic waste. Recycled peanuts, made from | | | | create a block of foam that slowly hardens, either |
| various recipes of post-consumer foams, set a | | | | as a mold or conformed around the product being |
| good environmental example for reuse. Paper | | | | packaged. Foam-in-place offers superior cushioning |
| peanuts, made from a variety of recycled papers, | | | | and block-and-brace performance, which is why it |
| have become common product line extensions for | | | | is often used for consumer electronics packaging. |
| manufacturers and converters of industrial paper | | | | Contrary to popular perception, foam-in-place is |
| products. | | | | safe and all materials are easily recycled by the |
| However, all these innovations in packing peanuts | | | | consumer. Because foam-in-place offers a wide |
| are much like rearranging deck chairs on the | | | | range of on-demand and pre-mold dispensing |
| Titanic. At the end of the day, loose fill of any | | | | systems and foams come in several densities, it |
| variety is still messy and lags behind competitive | | | | is an excellent choice for repair and refurbishing |
| products in cushioning and void fill performance. | | | | operations and packaging any heavy and/or fragile |
| Anti-static peanuts are expensive. Many types of | | | | product. |
| biodegradable peanuts are dusty and attract | | | | Multi-layer paper. Similar in concept to inflatable air |
| rodents. Paper peanuts are heavy, dusty, and | | | | bags, multi-layer paper systems bond together |
| hard to handle in bulk. And regardless of the | | | | two or three plies of paper and slightly crumple |
| chemical formulation, peanuts remain difficult for | | | | them on-site to create variable or predetermined |
| consumers to handle, recycle, and dispose of. | | | | lengths of cushioning/void fill material. These |
| Packing peanuts make poor void fill because they | | | | "paper pillows" offer cushioning and void fill |
| settle in the box. But peanut users need not | | | | performance superior to plain dunnage paper and |
| settle. Alternatives to peanuts abound, giving | | | | carry the same positive environmental message. |
| packers more options than they may realize. Here | | | | Every application is different, but the odds are at |
| are four of the best. | | | | least one of these alternatives can be integrated |
| Inflatable air bags. Several manufacturers offer | | | | into an existing packaging line configuration. When |
| systems which inflate small polyethylene air bags | | | | reviewing alternatives to packing peanuts, it is |
| on demand or in batches. Systems are available | | | | best to first pinpoint the ideal cushioning/void fill |
| for high and low speed operations. Inflatables are | | | | material, and then consider delivery options. |
| clean, attractive, and almost literally as light as air. | | | | Product size, weight, fragility, and value, along with |
| Inflatables require little material per application, and | | | | method of shipping, determine the best material |
| polyethylene film is reasonably priced and easily | | | | for the job. Line configuration, desired throughput |
| recycled. Inflatable systems require a modest | | | | rates, and available space are the key factors in |
| capital investment, but large volume packers can | | | | determining which delivery system to use. |