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As a form of protective, hygienic packaging polystyrene is ubiquitous, meaning disposing of it properly is essential – but the question is often asked ‘is polystyrene recyclable?’

The short answer is ‘yes, but due to the restrictions on curbside recycling, it is not always apparent how easy it is to recycle polystyrene. 

As a result, the capacity to recycle polystyrene can be overlooked.

Due to its wide use across numerous industries recycling polystyrene wherever possible is essential to help reduce waste and protect the environment.

The good news about polystyrene is that it is 100 per cent recyclable. 

Where can you recycle polystyrene? 

While councils generally recommend that individual households put polystyrene in the black bin along with their general waste, recycling is readily available within the industry.

For such protective product polystyrene shrinks down to very little when recycled due to the fact that the product is 98 per cent air – and just two per cent polystyrene.

Many polystyrene manufacturers also offer recycling facilities allowing the polystyrene to be used once again. 

Polystyrene recycling involves breaking the product down so that it can be used once more. As there is such a large amount of air in polystyrene the recycling process means that the product is greatly compacted and easy to transport and store ahead of being used again. 

Durable properties suit re-use

The properties that make polystyrene such a popular packaging material mean that it is extremely durable, and without proper recycling and disposal can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade. 

This makes the need for appropriate recycling methods to be put in place vital when considering the waste footprint of your company and its ethical commitments. 

This durability can also offer up other uses of polystyrene as a secondary solution for recycling. Polystyrene is commonly used as an insulating material and for protecting plants, while there are companies that can use polystyrene to create products such as garden furniture and household items. 

As a product in itself polystyrene is clean and free of CFCs, allowing it to be recycled and reused easily. 

Mindful of the part businesses and individuals must play in tackling the global waste problem and plastic pollution, polystyrene manufacturers often offer recycling facilities to help customers meet environmental objectives.

Vertapak is committed to producing and using products in an effective way that makes the most efficient use of the product. To this end we break waste polystyrene into beads before mixing it with new beads and moulding into blocks so that it can be used once more. 

Efficient packaging has an important part to play in protecting goods from damage – including food and electrical goods, which is also an import part of avoiding waste.

As an important packaging solution, it is vital that polystyrene is disposed of carefully to reduce the impact of waste on the environment. 

Talk to use about recycling polystyrene

Vertapak manufactures high quality polystyrene and is committed to maintaining high standards. To discuss your packaging needs – and concerns about recycling – please get in touch with Vertapak.

When choosing a supplier for high quality foam packing material, you need a company you can rely on. After all, packaging is a reflection of your brand and your own customers will judge you on its quality. If a package arrives in less than perfect conditions questions will be asked and reputation could be dented. So, how do you source a reliable partner – a business who you can trust to meet your needs? 

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Think about the following aspects before making a decision. 

Quality control 

Badly packaged goods can seriously damage your corporate reputation. That’s why it’s essential to work with a foam packing material supplier who puts quality at the heart of every product. Vertapak implements strict quality control procedures at every stage of the process so that our customers can be confident they will receive a great result every time. 

Good communication 

Got a question? We believe great communication is key to good customer service. That’s why we always do our best to keep our clients updated from start to finish with order updates, delivery and despatch information. We’re also happy to answer any questions, no matter how small. 

Product innovation 

We’re not a one-size-fits-all sort of supplier. We understand that what may be the right foam packing solution for one company many not be the right option for another. It’s why we have such a wide variety of customers too – from pharmaceutical firms looking for safer ways to transport medicines to food enterprises who recognise that foam packing offers many benefits for the delivery of perishable items. 

It’s also why we offer a consultancy service and will design a custom solution if required. If it’s out of the ordinary, get in touch. We’re certainly able to help. 

Move with the times

We invest in R&D and take on board customer feedback and industry developments to make sure we implement effective changes and move with the times.

Affordable packaging solutions 

We work to budget and our foam packing materials are affordable, creating a cost-effective yet highly advantageous and flexible packaging solution. 

Why add to your outgoings with bulkier, less effective packing materials when you can simplify the process, cost and decision?

Here are some other reasons to choose Vertapak for foam packaging solutions: 

• More than 30 years of experience in providing foam packing materials to a range of customers and across a wide variety of industries
• Free, no-obligation quotations
• Choice of quality products or complete bespoke design and manufacture service 
• Produce and speciality products packaging advice 
• All shapes and sizes
• Fast, reliable delivery
• We also supply polystyrene balls and expanded polystyrene for effective insulation

Talk to the professionals about foam packing materials

If you are looking for cost-effective and high-quality foam packing materials for your business, request your free, no obligation quotation by contacting the friendly team at Vertapak on 01384 457730.

Packaging is so much more than a purely functional way to send products to customers. Done well, and it can be a form of marketing in itself. Poorly executed and of low quality, it can not only do damage to the goods it’s meant to protect but to the reputation of a company too. That’s why internal packaging – which provides a cushioning effect and stops items from sliding about in transit – is so important. 

So, what are the most popular materials used for internal packaging and what are the pros and cons of the different options available? We’ll discuss a few of these below.

Crumpled paper packaging

Crumpled paper is often used to fill up empty space in a larger outer box and is a widely used choice due to its ready availability and lightweight nature. 

However, with more fragile, temperature-sensitive items it isn’t ideal – and to ensure what even limited protection it has to offer, it’s best to crumple the paper as tightly as possible. What’s more, because it has no insulating properties, this form of packaging isn’t suitable for transporting delicate items such as medicines, electrical goods and food and beverages.     

Bubble wrap packaging

Bubble wrap is great for protecting lightweight goods and a popular choice for internal packaging. Still, to ensure good levels of protection it’s advisable to wrap items in many layers, securing the bubble wrap in heavy duty tape. 

This method often has good intentions but the end result is frequently less than satisfactory. For instance, sending an expensive electrical item wrapped in tape and layers and layers of bubble wrap might not give the best impression to a customer on the receiving end. 

Polystyrene chips or peanuts packaging

Loose polystyrene chips are perfect for filling the smallest of gaps and providing just the right levels of protection and cushioning during transportation. Strong and durable, yet still lightweight, unlike paper polystyrene chips are also resistant to moisture. That’s a big plus if you are concerned about the effects of the weather when shipping your goods to customers. 

Moulded polystyrene inserts packaging

Smaller polystyrene balls can be extruded or moulded into strong and robust inserts which ‘suspend’ items inside a larger package. Keeping goods in suspension in this way stops them from touching in transit and reduces the potential for breakages. 

Polystyrene packaging benefits

Overall, there are many benefits of using polystyrene for internal packaging:  

• Superior insulating properties which protect against fluctuating temperature
• Moisture resistance 
• Shock absorption 
• Lightweight yet durable and strong

Ultimately, your chosen packaging will depend on the goods to transport, the expectations of customers and your budget. A suitable solution can always be sought where polystyrene is concerned.

Speak to us about internal packaging materials

If you’re looking for cost-effective polystyrene materials for internal packaging, request a free, no obligation quotation by contacting the Vertapak team on 01384 457730 or visit our extensive web blog pages and product pages for more information and send an online enquiry.

Ecommerce and buying online is now an important part of many consumers’ lives and the drinks’ industry is no exception, although it lags behind some other sectors. Many people think nothing of adding wine and beer to their online grocery shop, while alcohol brands offering subscription services and monthly clubs are growing in popularity. Meanwhile, the trend towards alcohol free drinks also presents an opportunity for retailers who wish to tap into a rapidly developing market. 

Questions around delivery 

Still, as a retailer delivering bottles to customers across the country, how do you present your products in the best possible way? How do you ensure that goods arrive at the intended destination intact? How do you limit breakages so that you don’t face the prospect of refunds and returns seriously undermining your bottom line? Suitable protective packaging is one answer. 

Why choose polystyrene bottle packaging 

There are several reasons why polystyrene makes for a good solution to package bottles.

Moulded polystyrene can be used to protect and cushion a variety of products and shapes in transit – including bottles. 

However, that isn’t the only reason to choose polystyrene as your packaging material of choice and it isn’t the only reason drinks’ retailers favour it. 

The benefits of polystyrene as a packaging choice

For a start, polystyrene is lightweight. Unlike other packing materials, it will help to keep shipping and distribution costs as low as possible. 

Despite its lightweight qualities, it is also robust and durable so can withstand some of the inevitable knocks and bumps during transportation from one place to another. 

It is also a highly effective insulator so that businesses can rest assured the temperature of a bottle will not be adversely affected by external hot and cold elements.

Considering all the advantages above, it is no surprise that it isn’t just the beverage industry that chooses polystyrene. It’s great for food and pharmaceutical companies too – especially when the temperature of goods needs to be kept constant.   

How to source a reliable supplier of polystyrene bottle packaging 

It is important to work with companies with experience in offering the right solutions to ecommerce businesses. Vertapak offers a range of options from single bottle polystyrene packaging right up to packaging for magnums, ensuring your wines, spirits, beers and champagnes arrive safe and sound with your customer. 

We design and manufacture all of our products and supply to clients throughout the Midlands and beyond. 

As a reliable supplier for a multitude of industries we also offer: 

• Free quotes 
• Consultancy services 
• Polystyrene products for packaging, insulation and display 

Contact Vertapak to discuss polystyrene bottle packaging

If you’re looking for cost-effective polystyrene bottle packaging for your ecommerce business, request a free, no obligation quotation by contacting Vertapak via our online contact form or give the team a call on 01384 457730 – we’ll be more than happy to answer any questions and guide you on a suitable solution for your needs. There’s a suitable option for every product to be packaged well.

When you’re an ecommerce business, it’s essential to achieve good margins in order to make your venture is sustainable in the long-term. Shipping is one of the factors that can have a serious impact on your bottom line so you’ll want it to be as cost-effective as possible in order to remain competitive. So how can ecommerce businesses reduce shipping costs and how does packaging have a part to play?

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Why shipping costs matter

Adding chunky delivery costs to goods can be off-putting to customers. Yes, prospective buyers may be lured in with a deal but that enticing headline figure may lead to plenty of abandoned shopping baskets if your company is then bumping up the price with hefty shipping charges. 

At the same time, heavily discounting the cost of delivery may leave you out of pocket. 

It’s a fine balance and a question that many online retailers struggle to resolve. 

Meanwhile, the big household names seem to be able to secure preferential treatment when it comes to working with courier services desperate to secure a partnership. It leaves the smaller independent shops with something of a dilemma – but it’s not an insurmountable problem if the right solution is chosen. 

Why are shipping costs going up? 

Couriers review their own costs annually and will themselves be at the mercy of forces such as fuel and staffing levels. 

Therefore, try not to take price rises personally. Look around for another service if necessary and consider adjusting the price of goods to accommodate any increase in your outgoings – which may also allow you to continue to offer free or discounted delivery to customers.  

However, one of the best ways to reduce costs is to look at packaging. 

Many sellers could cut down on what they pay by using less weighty packing materials when sending out items for delivery. Cardboard, which is bulky and cumbersome, may add quite substantial amounts to shipping over time. 

Less weight equals less cost. 

Polystyrene packaging is: 

• Lightweight and cost-effective 
• Robust and durable 

Choose light polystyrene inserts to protect goods in transit or polystyrene chips to create a cushioning effect. It’s flexible, versatile and used by a wide variety of ecommerce businesses to save money on shipping and still meet high customer expectations. 

Reduce shipping costs with polystyrene

If you’re looking for cost-effective polystyrene packaging for your ecommerce business, request a free, no obligation quotation by contacting the Vertapak team on 01384 457730.

If you’re an ecommerce business, no doubt you’re already preparing for the busy festive season ahead. It’s the busiest time of the year and you’ll want to maximise the opportunity to ensure a healthy start to 2020 and throughout those periods where profits may be leaner. With this in mind, we’ve created a guide to packaging your goods safely and securely in order to minimise the risk of damage and reduce the likelihood of costly returns. 

Pay attention to individual items 

Returns can seriously impact profit margins – with recent statistics suggesting that return deliveries will cost the equivalent of £450 billion by 2020, an increase of 75.2% compared to four years previously. 

There are long-term consequences as well. Those who have received broken items through the post are less likely to be repeat customers. There is also the possibility that they will leave negative reviews online, leading to a wider loss of reputation and erosion of consumer confidence in your brand.  

So, how do you pack goods well? Take care to package each individual item within any inner box as any loose goods can slide about and cause expensive breakages. This inner box should then be placed within a stronger outside container which in turn should be sealed to prevent tampering in transit. 

Internal packaging solutions 

Internal packaging should cushion and protect the contents of a package to prevent movement during transportation. 

Polystyrene chips are great for filling empty gaps and spaces while inserts which ‘suspend’ items inside a box to prevent movement are a good solution for electricals and fragile goods.

Failure to pay attention to good quality packaging over the festive period could mean a higher than necessary return rate. However, taking steps to prepare now, means that your goods will take pride of place underneath the Christmas tree. 

Why choose polystyrene packaging to protect goods? 

Choosing the right polystyrene packaging has a number of advantages. It can: 

• Limit movement of goods during transit 
• Be used to create a cushioning effect to minimise the impact of knocks and bumps 
• Stop goods from touching each other – this may be particularly important in the transportation of electrical items 
• Ensure items arrive in a good condition, ready to be enjoyed by the customer

If you’re looking for polystyrene packaging that protects goods and your corporate reputation over the festive period, speak to us about our polystyrene packaging solutions. Request a free, no obligation quotation by contacting Vertapak on 01384 457730.

With high-value and sensitive pharmaceutical products, transporting goods safely – with no risk of damage or tarnishing – can be a real challenge. Products that arrive in less than perfect condition can pose a danger to safety while also potentially harming the reputation of the manufacturer. In a highly competitive sector, it is important to operate to the highest of standards. Fortunately, when it comes to packaging, polystyrene is the solution that ticks all the boxes and ensures your product arrives safely, every time. 

Polystyrene is cost-effective (but that’s not the only benefit) 

Polystyrene packaging is durable but lightweight, which means that it won’t add to overheads in the way that bulky and weighty alternatives might do. 

However, saving money isn’t the only reason why pharmaceutical companies choose polystyrene packaging.  

Because it’s an effective insulator, it keeps temperatures inside a box stable. When moving medicine, this can be a critical factor and it is often of vital importance that the contents of a delivery are not exposed to extremes of heat or cold. For this reason, polystyrene is favoured by pharmaceutical firms for its all-year-round capabilities. 

It’s obvious why it’s also used to transport food products too. Where perishable goods may quickly spoil due to heat, a container which utilises polystyrene to insulate is the ideal choice. 

Making sure pharmaceutical products arrive in a good condition with the end user is one way to promote trust and an ongoing positive relationship. 

Polystyrene does not absorb moisture 

Unlike other packing materials, polystyrene does not take on water. For the pharmaceutical sector, ensuring medicines are not compromised or contaminated in any way is of great concern, and that’s where polystyrene offers real peace-of-mind. 

Then there’s the fact that it effectively absorbs the shocks and knocks that are an inevitable fact of transporting goods. When medicines are shipped in glass bottles or jars, there is the potential for damage and breakage. Here, polystyrene packaging can be used as a cushion or even used to ‘suspend’ products inside a larger container.

It’s a flexible material that can be shaped and customised to meet precise needs. Ask us about our consultancy service, where we can design the right product to match your exact specifications.     

If you would like to talk to us about bespoke polystyrene packaging solutions for the pharmaceutical sector, contact the Vertapak team on 01384 457730 for an informal chat.

Polystyrene balls are made by heating and processing hydrocarbon molecules, after which they can either be joined together to make bigger beads or formed into even larger structures. A highly versatile product, most people associate it with stuffed toys or beanbag filler (for which it’s excellent) but there are many other uses too.

Benefits of polystyrene balls

While versatility is one reason why polystyrene has become widely used for a number of applications, there are other benefits. Polystyrene balls are:

• Lightweight
• Durable
• Shock absorbing
• Insulating
• Moisture resistant

Indeed, when looking at the advantages listed above, it’s clear to see why polystyrene has become the material of choice for packaging. As a lightweight product that is also strong and does not absorb moisture, it’s great for ensuring goods arrive safely and intact – but without the costs associated with bulkier, heavier packing materials.

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Small foam chips can be used to create a cushioning effect when shipping – so are an ideal choice for electronics and delicate items including medicines, ceramics, glassware and foodstuffs.

Meanwhile, polystyrene balls can be bound together, moulded or extruded to make other packaging materials such as protective casing which can keep the contents of a package ‘in suspension’ while in transit.

Other uses of polystyrene balls

Takeaway cups, plates and food containers are other popular uses for polystyrene. Rather than being seen as a throwaway item, however, it is important to remember that polystyrene can be recycled.

Made up of 98% air and with no damaging CFC gases, larger polystyrene sheets or moulded products can be broken down into beads and mixed with new beads to form new blocks.

Alternatively, granulated polystyrene can be sent on to be used in other products including plant pots and garden furniture.

In addition, polystyrene balls can be used as insulation in cavity walls. A small hole is cut into a wall or plasterboard, before the beads are inserted with an air blower, filling up the empty space.

This forms a barrier, and due to its insulating properties, locks in heat and improves energy efficiency. (Again, this is one of the reasons why it has established itself as a good material for transporting goods which need to stay at a stable temperature.)

We are proud to design and manufacture polystyrene for a variety of applications including bespoke packaging. If you would like to make an enquiry about our polystyrene products, contact Vertapak using the online form or call the team on 01384 457730.

Customers expect the best and in today’s competitive climate, it only takes one offhand comment or negative review on social media to seriously dent your company’s reputation. Using polystyrene for packaging can help to protect the image of your business by ensuring goods arrive in mint condition and customer expectations are met, if not exceeded.

Perception matters

How your products arrive at an intended destination is crucial in determining the perception of your brand.

Imagine you are a customer and you are presented with a crushed and crumpled box, with no care for the contents inside. As a purchaser, you may have been looking forward to enjoying the latest electronic gadget, food item or beauty product.

There is a reason why the saying, “First impressions count,” remains so widely used. When little attention to packaging has been shown, the customer’s trust is likely to be damaged. Without trust, there is less chance of a repeat order or positive online review.    

Rate of return

Ask any eCommerce business about the problem of returns, and you’ll be told it can be a real issue that can cut profit margins and attack conversion rates.

However, with the right packaging that risk can be minimised.

Polystyrene inserts can be used to ‘suspend’ fragile goods within a larger container, holding items securely in place to stop movement in transit.

Meanwhile, polystyrene beads can be used to absorb the shocks and knocks that are part and parcel of going from A to B.

What’s more, because it is watertight, polystyrene can be used to provide a protective barrier around goods which may spoil if exposed to damp conditions.

Environmental credentials

With more businesses keen to show their commitment to the environment, expanded polystyrene is a great choice to add to the green credentials.

The material is approved for direct contact with food and because it contains no harmful CFC gases, it can be fully recycled after use.

Here at Vertapak, we recycle polystyrene by:

• Breaking waste into beads and mixing it with new polystyrene beads before these are moulded into blocks
• Compacting granulated materials, forming these into bricks before sending on to be reused for other products including plant pots and garden furniture

Learn more about polystyrene options

If you would like to make an enquiry about using polystyrene for packaging or to make an appointment please contact Vertapak and using our online form here or call the team on 01384 457730.

Standing apart in the world of eCommerce can be a challenge. It’s difficult enough to lead customers through the journey of ‘just browsing’ to ‘checkout’ without having to worry about dispatch and delivery headaches once you’ve got them to commit to making a purchase.  

Keeping customers on your side 

Products need to arrive in pristine condition if you want to keep people happy, keep them coming back for more and to pass on the good name of your business. This is especially critical if sending goods such as fragile electrical devices or perishable food and drink items, where the rough and tumble of transportation can cause (sometimes substantial) damage in transit. That’s where bespoke polystyrene packaging can make a real difference – both in terms of customer satisfaction and increasing the likelihood of repeat business.

Polystyrene packaging helps to ‘suspend’ electrical goods and fragile items by preventing them from moving inside boxes and outer packaging to:

• Prevent damage and absorb shock
• Stop items from touching inside a package
• Limit movement

Build your brand

Just like every other customer-facing aspect of your ecommerce venture, the packaging you use to pack and send products should reflect your brand. You wouldn’t expect many online browsers to buy a product if your website was shoddy or you had dozens of poor reviews. Equally, you wouldn’t sell low quality goods in the hope that no-one will ever notice and therefore risk continual bad feedback.

So, if you’ve invested time and money into researching a niche, sourcing the best deals and building an interested audience, why would you fall at the last hurdle with poor packaging? This creates a bad impression, not to mention the possibility of having to refund unhappy customers if there is damage to the product on delivery – a less than ideal scenario if you’re already operating on slim margins.

What’s more, because polystyrene packaging is an insulator, it keeps temperatures inside a container stable and not prone to the external fluctuations of hot or cold. Better still, polystyrene protects its contents from water too.

That means it is ideal for eCommerce enterprises specialising in:

• Electronics
• Food
• Beverages
• Beauty and medical products

Polystyrene packaging protects goods in transit

Because polystyrene is such a versatile product, it’s no wonder that it’s become the packaging material of choice. It’s lightweight, durable and can be moulded to fit the exact requirements of a retailer – whether the goods sold are large televisions, jars full of sweets or a selection of craft ales.  

Find out more about polystyrene packaging

If you would like to talk to us about bespoke polystyrene packaging solutions for an ecommerce business, contact the Vertapak team on 01384 457730.