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Pink and white packing peanuts are made of polystyrene. This is a very durable material that will take centuries to decompose naturally. So, if they are not treated in the right way, packing peanuts can become a serious threat to the environment. Fortunately, there is a way to recycle or reuse packing peanuts effectively and also, to be a bit creative with them:

1. Companies can use biodegradable packing peanuts. You can easily recognize these packing peanuts because they come in green colour and they are made from environmentally-friendly materials.
2. It is also a good idea to reuse the packing peanuts. Simply store them in a plastic bag and use them whenever you are mailing a package.
3. Ask businesses whether they need packing peanuts. Many businesses that ship products would like to take packing peanuts.
4. Replace gravel in planters with packing peanuts made of polystyrene. This will give you great drainage and make the planters much easier to move and lift.
5. Make the perfect pillow for your dog/pet. This will be a great item for any pet owner. Take a pillowcase with a zipper and stuff it with these packing peanuts. This is the perfect, comfy cushion for the pet. On top of that, these packing peanuts provide great air flow.
6. Use packing peanuts to refill your bean bag chairs.
7. Use them for a child’s Halloween costume. It is very easy to sew these packing peanuts and use them to create effects on your costume like toned muscles or fat bellies. You can have lots of fun with your kids creating something like this.

We hope we’ve given you some ideas!

Polystyrene sheets are relatively thin layers of material based on polystyrene foam. In many cases, people call these sheets Styrofoam sheets, which are actually one of the most popular products based on this material. The foam is made of hydrocarbon molecules that come from petroleum. They are inserted with the help of special air pressure technique and carefully molded into sheets. The sheets have the shape and size of drywall or plywood. Polystyrene sheets deliver great insulating effects. On top of that, they also provide a good level of structural strength which makes them suitable for different applications.

There are two varieties (and many sub-varieties) of polystyrene sheets. The main difference is the process of manufacturing. First of all, there are extruded polystyrene sheets which are based on polystyrene beads. These beads are melted and inserted through a mold or metal die. The sheets are known for their dense and closed-cell structure. They are also stronger, more durable and stiffer compared to other kinds of polystyrene sheets.

The second type is expanded polystyrene sheets. These are based on polystyrene beads with inserted air and tightly pressed in forms or molds. The sheets construction is less dense compared to extruded polystyrene sheets. This means that they are not as good as XPS for structural application.

Polystyrene sheets are mostly used for building insulation. They come in the form of panels that are installed under roofing and wall cavities or sidings. The main objective is to improve thermal resistance between interior and exterior surfaces. In some cases, polystyrene sheets are used in specific building materials like insulated concrete forms and structurally insulated panels. These sheets are often used to provide protection of packages and goods during the process of shipping and to line freezers and coolers. They can also be used for creating art and as part of crafts projects.

One of the key benefits of polystyrene sheets is that they have great insulating properties, they are easy to install, inexpensive, durable and lightweight.

For more advice, please get in touch.

According to many sellers, this is one of the most difficult issues to solve when you are selling large items. If the item you are selling doesn’t fit in a regular or even a specially designed oversized box, you should not be dismayed because there is always an alternative solution. Here are a few tips:

Firstly, start by selecting a suitable space where you can pack items. Regardless of the size and shape of the item, you should focus on creating a square box around the item. The final result will be a box that looks like a gigantic shoe box!

Measure the item and add four inches to H, W and L. The best idea is to place the item in a way in which the bottom of the item is facing the top of the box. To put it simply, keep the item upside down. After that, use Styrofoam sheets and cut these sheets so they can fill the belly of this item. Next, tape everything together and you should put a Styrofoam box around the item’s belly. Don’t tape them to the item because you could damage the finish.

After that, check whether there are gaps between the item. Make sure that the surface is flat on the bottom. If you notice voids, fill them with Styrofoam. Next, take the sheets made of Styrofoam and cut them carefully, so they can fit over the topside (the bottom). Don’t worry if the sheeting comes with gaps. The only thing that you should take care of is the extra hanging over the edges. If you leave this in place you will pay more for the shipping.

Once you are done, perform all these activities but this time with corrugated sheets. Avoid using seams at corners because the box can become unstable. Finally, focus on creating durable bottom and top lids. To reiterate, in the end, you should get a huge box that looks like a shoe box.

We hope this helps!

Home construction includes many different activities and installation of the right kind of insulation is one of them. In recent times, polystyrene insulation has become one of the most popular types of insulation. This is a material that doesn’t weigh too much and on top of that, it’s very easy to install polystyrene which is not the case with fiberglass. Furthermore, polystyrene insulation can be cut easily and fit in ceilings and walls. Even though its insulation properties are weaker when compared to fiberglass, the fact is that polystyrene insulation is very cheap.

Insulation brings two very important things when it is installed in the right way – it keeps the heat inside the building during the winter period and vice versa – it keeps it away in summer. Fiberglass insulation is probably the most popular form of insulation, but polystyrene insulation has proven to be more beneficial. Also known as blue or pink board Styrofoam, polystyrene insulation is available in the form of relatively large square sheets that are cut with a knife for better separation.

This simple separating construction is one of the things that make polystyrene insulation efficient because it is much simpler to install these squares than fiberglass insulation. At the same time, the specific shape keeps the squares from falling and sagging.  To keep moisture away, the foam board comes with a finish that is water resistant. This means that if there is moisture inside the wall it will stay there for a long time because there is no way for this water to be vented.

Used frequently for insulating commercial and domestic properties, polystyrene insulation improves a building’s energy efficiency and studies have shown that it can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition to this, polystyrene insulation is 100% recyclable and its mould- resistant properties help to improve indoor environmental quality. It is also flame retardant with no dangerous CFCs or HCFCs being a problem.

For more advice about polystyrene insulation, please contact us now.

Despite 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.

2. 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!

3. 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.

4. 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!

5. 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!

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.

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.

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:

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.

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 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.

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.

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?