Month: May 2014

How to recycle polystyrene packaging

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Polystyrene is used everywhere in packaging. From coffee cups and egg cartons to packing white goods for shipping, it’s one of the most effective and safest packaging materials out there. Because polystyrene is made up of approximately 98% air it makes a superb material for insulation and that’s why it’s used extensively in home insulation. It’s also why steaming hot coffee or tea doesn’t burn your fingers when it’s poured into a polystyrene cup!

polystyrene packagingAnother great feature of polystyrene is that it is so light. This means that although it gives great cushioning, polystyrene packaging doesn’t add a great deal of weight so it makes it a very flexible packaging material.

On the down side, polystyrene packaging can be awkward to recycle. Its lightness makes it susceptible to winds and left over polystyrene packaging can often be blown away from recycling skips and containers. Its bulkiness also makes it difficult and expensive to transport so recycling polystyrene packaging on a large industrial scale could potentially be prohibitive.

So, how can you go about recycling polystyrene packaging in an efficient and cost effective way?

The good news is that there are no harmful CFC gases in polystyrene so it makes a good material to recycle. At Vertapak we have two tried and tested methods of recycling polystyrene packaging:

We break the wasted material into beads and mix it with new beads before moulding it into blocks. We compact granulated polystyrene into blocks and then send it on to a recycling depot.

Polystyrene can be recycled into items such as picture frames, plants pots, garden furniture and much more which means that none of the material goes to waste.

We like to do our best for the environment at Vertapak and our commitment to recycling

polystyrene packaging ensures that we use our products in the most efficient way. To find out more about our range of polystyrene product and recycling methods then please do not hesitate to contact us.

The benefits of polyethylene foam packaging

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Polyethylene foam packaging is used in a variety of applications such as cervical collars, insoles, exercise mats, life jackets, carpet underlay, theater sets and props to name just a few. It has a broad use across many industries including health care, automotive, sports and leisure, marine, building footwear and, of course, packaging.

Polyethylene foam is made in a mould and then formed into a sheet. The length, width and thickness of the sheet depends on the density of the foam and it can be cut, shaped and profiled depending on the job it is being used for.

The benefits of polyethylene foam are numerous and they include;

  • The ability to absorb impact and vibrationpolyethylene foam packaging
  • High buoyancy with very little water absorption
  • Strong acoustic and thermal insulation properties
  • Good resistance to adverse weather conditions
  • Good chemical resistance
  • Splash resistance to oils and fuels
  • Excellent for thermo-moulding and thermo-forming
  • A strong uniform cell structure which makes it a highly flexible material
  • More cost effective than EVA foam
  • A suitable replacement for a wide variety of materials such as rubber, felt, wood Composites and fibreglass
  • It is non-abrasive and non-corrosive
  • Extremely lightweight and flexible
  • Enables simple and quick packaging saving both time and money
  • Perfect for multiple drops and factory transit applications
  • Environmentally friendly packaging

Ideal for transporting vulnerable items

If you have vulnerable items that need to be transported then polyethylene foam packaging is the ideal choice. Its ability to take knocks, bumps, and scuffs without damaging the goods inside means that products seldom get damaged in transit. This ultimately saves time, money and leads to better customer service for your customers. Polyethylene foam packaging is also completely recyclable, making it the ‘green’ choice when it comes to packaging.

With so many benefits it’s little wonder that polyethylene foam packaging is such a widely used materials across so many industries. Available in a variety of colors, we can tailor the packaging specific to your needs so please contact Vertapak and speak to one of our team to discuss your requirements.