Consumer packaging uses different materials to keep products in place and to protect them from external stresses. As online shopping grows, so does the number of packages sent by mail. Consumers are paying increasing attention to the origin of the materials used in packaging, as well as to the ease of recycling.
Environmentally-friendly and easily recyclable packaging material
Nowadays, a lot of bubble wrap and polystyrene, expanded polystyrene (EPS or styrofoam) are used in both consumer and postal packaging. For these materials however, viable recycling options are rare. From consumers’ perspective EPS is also difficult due to the large amount of space it takes up after use.
A light and porous foam structure made from wood fibre works just as well as the packaging solutions in use at the moment (EPS, bubble wrap, corrugated board, paperboard, egg carton and plastic). Fibre foam is adaptable to paper and/or cardboard recycling and is made from renewable raw materials. The properties of fibre foam can be adjusted according to use: heavy items can be packed into a hard package made from fibre foam, and vibration-sensitive products can be packed into soft packaging. The raw material for the foam can be cellulose, mechanical fibre, recycled paper, and even offcuts from carton manufacturing.
How it works in practise
After opening the package, the fibre-based interior packing material can be easily disposed of: it can be crushed up small and then put into either the paper or cardboard recycling bin.
The manufacturing process for interior packing material is simple and scalable. Compared with say, the manufacture of styrofoam, the moulds used for forming the porous foam structure are cheap which makes the cost-efficient production of small batches possible.
Fibre-based interior packing materials can be used for packing electronics, crockery, jewellery, and even Christmas chocolates. The packing material absorbs vibration effectively too, so it could be used for transporting, for example, blood samples and electronic devices.
Economic opportunities and broader social significance
This packing solution offers consumers an environmentally-friendly and easily recyclable option. Shopping online is ever-more attractive and pleasant when your house does not fill up with mountains of bubble wrap. The foam interior packing material can be used in a multitude of damping and other support element roles.
The packaging market is estimated to grow to EUR 830 billion by the year 2016 [Pira]. Just the market for the damping elements inside cardboard boxes is estimated to be worth EUR 11 billion a year, even excluding foodstuff applications. Fibre-based interior packing material would lead to significant cost savings, not to mention positive environmental effects.