New Shipping Material Made From Popcorn Can Replace ...

Link to Huafeng

In a stroke of scientific genius, a German researcher enjoying a box of popcorn in a dark movie theater realized that the overpriced, butter-soaked concession had the exact same size and consistency as Styrofoam packing peanuts.

Considering Styrofoam is made from polystyrene, which requires fossil fuel extraction and takes centuries to break down into yet smaller bits of harmful micro-plastic, Alireza Kharazipour thought it was worth experimenting with puffed corn kernels as a replacement for them.

Annually, in the U.S. alone, around 3 million tons of polystyrene is produced, which is a lot considering it&#;s 95% air. It&#;s a popular choice because it has enabled packaging to take on very precise forms and provides excellent packing safety for fragile electronics on the move, for instance&#;while costing pennies to manufacture.

One of its worst qualities is that most recycling facilities don&#;t have the capability to process it.

&#;Our popcorn packaging is a great sustainable alternative to polystyrene which is derived from petroleum,&#; said Stefan Schult, Managing Director of Nordgetreide.

&#;The products are very light because popcorn granules are filled with air like honeycombs,&#; Kharazipour tells Fast Company. &#;When grain maize expands into popcorn, the volume increases by 15% to 20%.&#;

Taking corn waste products produced from making corn flakes, then filling them with steam creates what Kharazipour and his team at Gottingen University call &#;granulated popcorn.&#;

MORE: 150 Brands Unite to Clean Up Our Paper Supply &#; Saving Global Forests and Improving Recycling

The popcorn packing can be made from any type of corn, and is completely biodegradable.

Large pieces can be compressed into shapes to hold different products, and can be easily sawed into pieces, either for cutting into precise shapes, or for shredding at the end of its life.

The brilliance of Kharazipour&#;s idea has landed him an exclusive licensing agreement with a medium-sized grain and cereal company in Europe called Nordgetreide for manufacturing various popcorn packing products.

RELATED: World&#;s Largest Wind Turbine Manufacturer Says All Its Blades Will Soon be Fully Recycled

SHARE the Good Green News With Friends on Social Media&#;

Page 1 of 2

1

2 >

 

08-29-, 09:58 PM Northsouth  

Location: Hickville USA

5,903 posts, read 3,797,358 times

Reputation:

Advertisements

I mail a lot of packages and today while at the post office the clerk suggested using air-popped popcorn instead of styrofoam peanuts.

I don't know about this. I mean I love the idea because there's no waste at all. Receive the package and throw the packing material to the birds.

But how would you feel receiving a really nice gift stuffed in food? It's air popped, of course, so there's no salt or grease but it's still food.

And what about the smell?

Anyone have suggestions how to make it not smell like popcorn?
Or just other green ideas to use for non-smelly packing material?

 

08-29-, 10:22 PM fierce_flawless  

Location: in my mind

2,743 posts, read 14,297,796 times

Reputation:

I've heard of this. If it's a business situation (not mailing gifts to family or whatever), then I would only do it if the customer agreed beforehand, and I would still protect the item (with a plastic bag or similar) from the popcorn smell. I considered doing this when I sold on eBay years ago, but never actually did it because most of what I sold was clothing so it wasn't a big deal.. I didn't ship much in the way of fragile items.

Personally I wouldn't mind at all, were I to be on the receiving end. I HATE Styrofoam peanuts for many many reasons and would be just fine with AIR popped popcorn. It'd be cheaper too.

 

08-30-, 12:55 AM kygman  

Location: In the Pearl of the Purchase, Ky

11,087 posts, read 17,548,854 times

Reputation:

I remember my parents getting a package filled with popcorn a long time ago. Think I was 10or 11, not for sure. Always been a big popcorn fan, but I didn't know about that. Dad let the birds enjoy it! lol

 

08-30-, 04:33 AM PinkString  

Location: Somewhere.

10,481 posts, read 25,291,990 times

Reputation:

She's very frugal, so free popcorn as packing material is food in her mind.

If i used popcorn to send my Mom a gift, she would eat it all up. lolShe's very frugal, so free popcorn as packing material is food in her mind.

 

For more information, please visit popcorn as packing material quantity pricing.

08-30-, 04:47 AM ButterflyUK  

Location: Cheshire, UK

306 posts, read 1,162,065 times

Reputation: 219

I have seen it used. Not a bad idea and it works just as good as the other packaging materials.

 

08-30-, 06:12 AM shadowfax  

Location: Maine

502 posts, read 1,736,161 times

Reputation: 506

wouldn't popcorn get crushed during transportation allowing the item packed to shift around? Especially if it is a heavy item?

Do we really want to use food for this type of item? Food has already gone up price wise largely due to corn being used as a gas additive. Seems silly to me.

 

08-30-, 08:59 AM Northsouth  

Location: Hickville USA

5,903 posts, read 3,797,358 times

Reputation:

Quote:

shadowfax

Originally Posted by

wouldn't popcorn get crushed during transportation allowing the item packed to shift around? Especially if it is a heavy item?

Do we really want to use food for this type of item? Food has already gone up price wise largely due to corn being used as a gas additive. Seems silly to me.

Thanks everybody for your responses.

Anyone have any ideas about what would be green besides just re-using received packing material?

Yeah, that's what I thought too. Getting crushed and there's the price of food and the shortage of corn, period. I suppose given all the factors that it's not really that green of an idea anymore.Thanks everybody for your responses.Anyone have any ideas about what would be green besides just re-using received packing material?

 

08-30-, 09:41 AM Niners fan  

Location: Boise, ID

1,356 posts, read 6,027,646 times

Reputation: 944

There are some starch packing peanuts. They are white and shaped like cylinders instead of S-shaped. They are biodegradable and dissolve in water. They work fairly well for light things but not for heavy things. When they get crushed they don't break apart but they flatten out and don't regain their shape.

Also, if the package gets wet they can get the goods inside sticky.

 

08-30-, 11:19 AM Tek_Freek  

28,803 posts, read 47,711,118 times

Reputation:

I have received items that have air-filled bags around them. I deflate the bag and take it to the store along with my other plastic bags from shopping and drop it in the recycle barrel.

I've always though wadded up newspaper was a great packing material.

 

08-30-, 11:38 AM RalphKNS  

146 posts, read 350,276 times

Reputation: 81

I'm concerned that popcorn would attract animals.

Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.

Page 1 of 2

1

2 >

City-Data Forum Message  
Quick Reply The following errors occurred with your submission

Message:

 Posting Quick Reply - Please Wait
« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Want more information on how to make popcorn in the microwave with a bag? Feel free to contact us.