Your essential guide to recycling polystyrene

Did you know that every year, large amounts of polystyrene (hundreds of tons) are recycled all over the United Kingdom? This practice is followed by every responsible business even though local authorities in the UK are still not providing polystyrene recycling gathering points. Polystyrene is a specific material and represents an individual, inert polymer. This means that it is very easy to manage polystyrene when it comes to gathering, processing and finally, recycling.

Polystyrene Recycling

3-R rule

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle are the three things that are crucial for reducing and processing any waste and polystyrene is no exception. Today, almost every manufacturer of polystyrene products is trying to use as little as material possible to provide the required performance. In addition, many of them are buying energy efficient machines and equipment and try to make their manufacturing process as sustainable as possible. There are many companies that are following the ISO 14001 standard too.

Besides reducing the amount of polystyrene, we can also reuse it which is a better option than recycling. So, any piece of polystyrene which was broken during the process of production are broken into even smaller pieces until the manufacturer gets beads and these can be put back into new products. Therefore, there is no waste that comes from the process of manufacturing polystyrene products. Of course, these pieces are completely clean and free of HBCD. They are usually used in insulation boards and packaging products.

Finally, the last option from the three R rule is recycling. Many people don’t know that every product based on polystyrene is completely recyclable. This means that anything from fish boxes to garden seed trays can be recycled. Of course, there are many professional recyclers who are interested in used polystyrene for recycling. The best thing is that most of them will also come to your place and collect the polystyrene for free.

The polystyrene that is used needs to be compacted because this is the only way to reduce its original size. By getting rid of the air between the materials, the size can be reduced by up to 85%. This compacted polystyrene comes in the form of relatively small blocks of hard material which is easy to transport.

For all your polystyrene packaging needs, please contact us now.

 

5 ways to reuse polystyrene

Polyethylene PackingDespite its many uses, polystyrene sometimes gets a bad press because it contributes to pollution, a problem that is becoming very serious these days. What is interesting about polystyrene is that experts say that polystyrene left in landfills will disintegrate only after one million years. At the same time, polystyrene recycling is difficult because it requires special procedures.

 

So, the only logical and practical solution is to reuse polystyrene. Luckily, this material can be reused in many different ways and here we will highlight some of the more interesting ones:

  1. Create a homemade glue

Not many people are aware of the fact that used polystyrene can be recycled at home and turned into very useful and powerful household glue. Take a relatively large quantity of polystyrene peanuts and mix them with d-Limonene/orange rind oil. By doing this, you will break down the material and get a very sticky compound that can work as superglue.

  1. Use it on your patio

Pieces of deep and moulded polystyrene acquired from big box devices can help you make raised beds which can be used on patios. If these pieces of polystyrene don’t have drainage holes, just take a craft knife and carve them.

We can all agree that they don’t look great on their own, but if you place some bedding plants or wildflowers, they will definitely enrich the space!

  1. Drainage tools for plant pots

Replace ceramic shards, gravel or pebbles with polystyrene as a drainage tool in plant pots. Simply place a layer of small pieces of polystyrene and plant your flower or another plant in the usual way. Don’t forget that polystyrene is much lighter compared to gravel or pebbles.

  1. Polystyrene modeling with your kids

Polystyrene can be used in arts and crafts activities with your kids – building model cities, robots, adding to pictures – the only limit is your imagination!

  1. Create knitting markers

You can also cut tiny forms from relatively thin polystyrene pieces and use them as knitting markers.

So there you have it. Don’t waste that polystyrene….repurpose it!

Tips on how to pack a parcel

Sending a parcel is not a complex process, but in order to avoid any accidents, then it makes sense to pack the parcel in a way which will make it safe for sending. The good news is that this procedure is simple and it doesn’t take much time and effort.

Protective Packaging

 

First of all, you should select the best tools for this task. There are hundreds of parcels that are damaged because the senders use inadequate materials. Some of the basic tools and equipment for packing a parcel include strong cardboard boxes, jiffy bags, quality parcel tape, strong triangular tubes and parcel straps. Don’t forget that the right size of box plays a very important role too.

Selecting the outer packaging is important, but what’s inside the package is important too. The inner packaging usually consists of polystyrene chips, bubble wraps and polyethylene foam. These materials represent an ideal material for cushioning and will keep the item in place and prevent damage. If you are sending fragile items, make sure that they are positioned in the middle of the box for maximum protection.

Using delicate materials like bags made from different fabrics is not a smart idea because the parcels can be damaged from other parcels or during transportation. The material used for this purpose must be sturdy. Packing a parcel doesn’t always mean using new packaging. However, if you are using old packaging make sure that the packaging is still sturdy and strong.

It doesn’t really matter what kind of service you use – the one that requires printed labels for your parcel or handwritten label – you must be sure that the item is labeled clearly. This label should include a description of the item and delivery address. It also makes sense to add another label inside the box in case something happens to the external label.

If possible, you should also avoid decorative packaging. Using this kind of packaging can lead to accidents. For instance, if the parcel has ribbons it can get stuck and caught by machines. In addition, decorative packaging may also increase the chances of theft.

For more advice about packaging, please contact us now.

 

 

Fantastic reuses for expanded polystyrene packaging

There are many ways you can reuse expanded polystyrene – the well-known white, soft shapes commonly found in toy boxes or boxes used for protection of electronics. By unleashing your creativity, you may be surprised by what you can do with them. Here are a few examples:

Polystyrene Packaging

Crocks

To start with, you can use expanded polystyrene pieces as crocks in almost any plant pot. In order to do this, you will need to create chunks of this foam. They have proven to be especially useful for large tubs loaded with plants with shallow roots. So, you can use the lightweight, soft foam to fill the gap instead of using soil. In this way, you can relocate the pot wherever you want easily. If you are concerned about chemicals, don’t use it in pots filled with vegetables or fruit.

Creation of artwork

Obsolete expanded polystyrene can help you release your creativity and make some unique pieces of artwork. Many artists have used this material to make models or sculptures. In addition, you can use this material to support existing artwork. For instance, the flat parts are often used as poster boards to mount photos and pictures directly on walls. Those interested in wall art can use deep pieces of this special foam.

Bath toys for children or bath pillows

Find a smooth piece of this foam and use fabric that can quickly dry to cover it. The best idea is to use old swimwear or thin cotton. Once you cover it, you can enjoy your time spent on your brand new floating pillow. Use smaller pieces of expanded polystyrene and some fabric to create unique bath toys for your children.

Insulation

Finally, you can use expanded polystyrene for insulation. This material contains air blocked between separate beads which make it an excellent insulator.

These are just some of the reuses of expanded polystyrene. Want to know more about how expanded polystyrene is used in the packaging industry? Please contact us now.

 

 

 

How to pack items using polystyrene

Polystyrene is a very strong, durable and inexpensive form of plastic that can be used in many different ways. One of the most common uses of polystyrene is for packaging. It has been proven that this specific material is able to provide excellent protection when goods are delivered from one place to another. If the goods don’t have adequate protection during transport, then clearly they can get damaged and this is why using polystyrene for packaging will save you both time and money. But, how exactly can you pack items with the help of this special plastic?

polystyrene packaging

Polystyrene is an excellent internal packaging material. In most cases, people use polystyrene peanuts which represent pieces of enlarged polystyrene which are usually used in empty spaces inside the packages. People often use them for double boxing because they making the product inside the box more stable and prevent vibration and shocks in electrical goods. When using polystyrene peanuts and chips, you must be sure that the box is completely filled with this material and that there is no free space.

Packing electrical goods with polystyrene blocks or surrounds is a must. When using them for this purpose, just make sure that the polystyrene keeps the product fixed and that the blocks are not damaged when you are packing the product.

Polystyrene is a very versatile material used for packaging different items including bicycles, car wheels, car doors, body panels, ceramic and china, computers, musical instruments and many other items.

If you want to send an expensive and/or fragile item and you are doing this for the first time, you can always count on polystyrene. Most shippers and couriers use polystyrene to pack the items in the right way and keep them safe. This material is lightweight which means it won’t increase the parcel’s weight significantly and in addition, polystyrene also provides excellent insulation.

Packing items with polystyrene is simple and very beneficial and this material is the ideal choice when planning the safe transportation of valuable items. For more advice about polystyrene packaging, please contact us now.

How to reuse polystyrene packaging

The shaped white elements that are part of the protective packaging of many products (electronic devices for example), extended polystyrene and other forms of polystyrene are very difficult to recycle. To be more precise, there are only few places that collect this material. When someone mentions foam peanuts people usually come up with at least a couple of ways in which this material can be reused. However, the situation is different when it comes to packaging foam in the form of expanded polystyrene. That’s why we have decided to share a few suggestions about how to reuse polystyrene packaging.

Packaging Material

Polystyrene for creation of artwork or mounting paintings on walls

Used polystyrene can be used to unleash your creativity. For instance, you can use it as a basis for models and/or sculptures. The parts that are flat are used by some artisans as a core to mount paintings, posters or photography on walls. If the pieces are thicker they can be used for block wall art.

Insulation

The air stuck between separate polystyrene beads makes this material a great insulator. There are some homeowners who are worried about the flammability of polystyrene but they can use it in other ways. For instance, they can use them as cold frames in the yard in order to prevent damage to seedlings caused by cold soil. They can also be quite helpful if you are installing a garden pond. Place some polystyrene between the soil and the liner. This is a great option for those who want to maintain the temperature of the water. Finally, you can use it as a hay oven.

Creating costumes

Due to the fact that this a lightweight material, but at the same time it is a bulky and easy to shape it, polystyrene is ideal for modification of dress costumes or Halloween costumes if people want to appear bulkier.

Bath toy

Kids love bath toys and you can definitely use polystyrene for some DIY bath toys. Just cover them with interesting fabric and you’ll get memorable bath toys.

Who would have thought that polystyrene packaging could be so versatile?

What can foam packaging peanuts be used for?

If you are storing or transporting breakable items, it is always a good idea to use some foam packaging to keep the items safe. This is a well-known fact and it is no surprise why so many manufacturers use foam for packaging. However, there are other more unusual things that you can use foam packaging for and in this blog, we will mention some of the more interesting ones.

For starters, you can use foam packaging peanuts to apply wood glue and other similar materials. Once you are done, you can simply throw the foam peanuts away and it certainly saves time on having to clean brushes!

If you happen to be hanging a mirror, you can cut small pieces of foam and use glue to stick them on the corners of the frame in order to keep the painted walls safe. You can use this technique on picture frames too.

There are many people who own beanbag chairs and over time these chairs lose tend to lose their properties. If you have saggy beanbag chairs, simply open the cover and put as many foam peanuts as you need to restore the filling. These peanuts will cover the loss and make the sitting more comfortable.

Even your kids can find foam packaging peanuts useful. If you want to make their craft and play area more exciting, you can glue peanuts in the form of castles, mountains and create other interesting forms. This is a cheap and innovative way of creating a fun play area for your children.

Individuals who are fond of gardening will be glad to hear that foam is useful for this activity too. People usually put some peanuts in large pots and pour soil to increase drainage and make the large pots lightweight.

If you need to put a screw into a larger hole, you can fill the space by adding a foam peanut. Simply put the screw into the peanut and start screwing. The additional material is easy to remove and the screw will fit perfectly.

Finally, if you have dried flowers that should be placed in a slightly larger vase, add some foam peanuts to give them stability and increase their height.

Who would have though that foam packaging peanuts could be so useful?

The Benefits Of Using Foam Packaging

Most people are well-aware of the fact that good packaging is necessary for proper transportation of goods or if goods need to be stored for weeks or even months on end. The packaging is there to protect the product from external influences like adverse weather conditions and damage done by rats and other pests.
The reality is that there are an increasing number of people who acknowledge the fact that the product is strongly affected by the packaging materials. That’s why the companies that work in this industry are introducing eco-friendly solutions. The most successful companies are providing packaging products that will not only keep the product inside safe, but will also keep the environment safe. Waste disposal and waste processing is becoming a huge problem all over the world and a great way to reduce this problem is to design eco-friendly packaging products.

Packaging Material

Those who want to be confident that the goods that they have stored or transported will be protected all the time should definitely try foam packaging. One of the main benefits of using this type of packaging is the fact that it can be used for securing many different products. To put it simply, foam is essentially plastic filled with air, which means that it is very lightweight. This also means that it is quite simple to load and unload goods in foam packaging. But, what is even more important, is that this packaging won’t increase the weight of the product during transportation and, as we all know, the heavier the goods are, the more you will have to pay for transportation.

Furthermore, foam packaging can be produced in any shape you want. Foam packaging can be tailor-made to fit the form of the product. In addition, the party that will receive the product doesn’t have to worry about unpacking because it is quite easy to unpack foam-packaged products. This packaging also doesn’t create any mess after unpacking.

Foam packaging is available in two forms – hard and soft. Soft foam packaging is perfect for fragile items whereas hard foam packaging is suitable for more sturdy items.

To find out more about foam packaging and how it can benefit you, please contact us now.

What Is Polystyrene Insulation And How Can It Help

Proper insulation is a must for every modern home. There are many different materials and products on the market used for this purpose. Of course, each of them comes with specific advantages and disadvantages. According to many experts, using natural and/or recycled materials is the best way to insulate any home. One of the most popular products of this kind is polystyrene.

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How to Pack Delicate Items For Shipping

Shipping products has never been easier because the infrastructure around the world has significantly improved in the last decade. However, during this activity many items are damaged because of the inadequate packing. The following is a list of tips that will help you pack delicate items for shipping and keep them safe and sound.

To start with, if you are shipping hollow items you should use Styrofoam peanuts in them. Take some bubble wrap and wrap the item for extra protection. Just make sure that the bubbles are not popped. In case you are shipping items like soup bowls, saucers and different types of plates, you should pack them in the inner box right on their edges. Never arrange them at the top of one another. If you use the same box for these items, make sure to tape them well because without good tape they will move around while they are being shipped. Every side of the item must be cushioned well.

Another good tip is to wrap the box with bubble wrap after you pack the item/s securely in a box. After that, you should place the package in another box. The second box should be bigger by about 3 inches (on each side) compared to the first box. The rest of the space should be filled with paper or some other material that can be used as cushion.

Many postal services require the use of Styrofoam that is at least 4 inches thick (between the boxes)

Keep in mind that newspapers weigh more compared to Styrofoam which ultimately means higher shipping costs. In addition, generally speaking, Styrofoam provides better protection than newspapers.

Don’t forget that as a seller/sender, it is your responsibility to cover the cost of damage or completely replace the item in case it was damaged if it was shipped in an inappropriate way.

For more advice about the best packaging to use for shipping delicate items, please contact us now.