What Kind of Packaging Material Is the Best?

When mailing a package, you must consider what type of packing material to use.

Foam Products Are Easy and Inexpensive.

Packing your shipment with foam products is a very inexpensive solution. Foam shipping products, such as foam peanuts, can be purchased at many local office supply stores or online.

Natural Wood Curls Are Eco Friendly

Unlike foam packing products, natural wood curls do not enter the solid waste stream or landfills. The wood curls can be reused for pet bedding, landscaping mulch or as a fire starter. The wood curls protect the package you're sending while being environmentally friendly.

Bottom Line

Both foam packing material and natural wood curls cushion the product you're mailing and keep it from being damaged, but foam products are not good for the environment. According to the Foundation for Advancements in Science and Education, the space used up in landfills by all plastics is between 25 and 30 percent.

References

• Sylvacurl: Packaging and Cushioning Material
• Earth Resource Foundation: Polystyrene Foam Report