There is no question that in today’s world that both consumers and retailers have become more aware of how their decisions are affecting our planet. Few would argue that there is a great benefit in developing products and packaging that are biodegradable. But this begs the question, what does biodegradable mean? While definitions can get very scientific and discuss the differences between aerobic and anaerobic degradation, most people consider biodegradable to mean that the material can be broken down into organic components. Essentially, biodegradable materials can be returned to the environment for re-use as opposed to polluting the earth or increasing landfills for years, decades, or centuries. Of course, as the plastics industry attempts to roll out new biodegradable plastics, people have really started to study the biodegradability of packaging. As one would suspect, biodegradation can take place in many environments, above ground, in soils, in landfills, in compost bins, etc. Unfortunately, while global standards exist to certify compostable plastics (ASTM D6400) and compostable packaging (ASTM D6868), these standards apply primarily to the controlled composting conditions typically found only at industrial composting facilities. It remains quite uncertain as to whether many of these plastics will degrade quickly in standard landfills or backyard compost bins.

What better way to preserve the environment than to utilize packaging made from 100% recycled materials. That is what you get with UFP Technologies' molded fiber packaging material. Our products are produced entirely from recycled newspapers and water. Aside from the environmental benefits to using recycled materials, we also benefit from using a resource that has been recycled for decades and is in plentiful supply. This is an important consideration when evaluating potential packaging materials as many recycled packaging options suffer from supply shortages when demand spikes or commodity prices...

Molded Pulp vs. Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) EPS or expanded polystyrene packaging has historically been a popular choice for protecting products in distribution. However, the growing trend towards the use of environmentally friendly products and the potential volatility of rising oil prices has led to a marked increase in the use of molded fiber packaging. And since molded pulp nests, customers can see a decrease in the amount of space needed to store parts and an increase in the density of parts that comes with each delivery. The corresponding result is fewer vehicles that can transport more...

Material Sustainability Price Cushioning Shipping & Storage Climate Tolerance Static Protection Molded Pulp 100% Recycled Paper Recyclable, biodegradable & compostable Stable Excellent vibration & cushioning properties Easily nests Unaffected by extreme temperature or humidity Static neutral Geometry EPS Resin Based Non-biodegradable Volatile Good vibration & cushioning properties Does not nest Temperature affects brittleness Requires treatment with antistatic agents Density Corrugated Cardboard Recyclable Variable Inconsistent vibration & cushioning properties Requires labor and assembly Humidity...

36 nested Molded Pulp endcaps 47" high vs. 36 EPS endcaps 157.5" high 70% warehouse space saved with Molded Pulp