The best thing about void fill is there are so many options. The worst thing about void fill is … there are so many options. Selecting the right void fill material is difficult — keeping a few things in mind will help you make the right decision.

Void fill can be broken down into several categories.

Loose fill materials, commonly called “packing peanuts”, are made from a variety of eco friendly and not so eco friendly materials, including polystyrene, corn starch, and paper. The weight of loose fill varies depending on the material, but generally speaking, loose fill is inexpensive per application, but messy and not very effective for cushioning.

Industrial papers include kraft paper, newsprint, and tissue paper. Most papers used for void fill have high PCW content, are fairly inexpensive per application, and are easier and cleaner to use than loose fill. Industrial papers are available in sheeted or roll form, making them easy to integrate into most packing operations. Multi-layered papers have become more popular in recent years, mainly due to shippers looking for alternatives to plastic-based packing materials. Multi-layer papers, which are typically made on-site, provide excellent cushioning, but are significantly heavier than plastic alternatives. (more…)

Some types of secondary packaging material are far worse for the environment than others. One of the worst, in our opinion, is the old standby for void fill, polystyrene loose fill. Folks who use this material because of its (perceived) low cost and (real) speed, are, well … ecoblivious.

Polystyrene is recyclable, but not easily so. The material is extremely lightweight and therefore expensive to ship to recycling centers, which are often a long distance away. While associated transportation costs have always been high, the economics are now even worse due to the rapid run up in fuel costs. (more…)

This blog was created to bring new products to the attention of our readers, whether they are provided by us or not. We welcome companies with new green packaging products to let us know and even if we are not able to help take them to market, we are more than willing to share the news and information with our readers.

100% Recycled Content Air Pillow Void Fill

We are very proud to announce the introduction of Globe Guard™ Inflatable Air Pillows, void fill air pillows made of 100% recycled material. With the help of Automated Packaging Systems Inc., the undisputed leader in the area of plastic bags and bag sealing equipment, we now offer a product with all of the functional benefits of an inflatable product for you and the sustainable packaging advantages your eco conscious customers demand. (more…)