5 Tips to Keep in Mind When Using Packing Peanuts and Other Loose Fill Packaging

By Cory Levins
15 mar 2019

Loose fill packaging, such as packing peanuts, has long been a staple element of cargo shipping worldwide. Digging through a mound of Styrofoam peanuts after opening a box is a classic mental image—but does it represent the prevailing practices in the contemporary shipping industry? Although other void fill packaging options for shipping are now widely used, loose fill is still a cost-effective option with many useful qualities. Air Sea Containers offers several loose fill packaging solutions, from traditional packing peanuts to absorbent minerals and beyond. If you’re considering these economical and effective packing solutions, here are five things you should know. corrugated cardboard moving box

1. Loose fill packaging offers several key advantages.

Loose fill packaging is still a common packaging option due to several properties that make it good at protecting your cargo:

Extremely light but still highly protective against impacts
Easy to use with automatic filling systems
Many forms have a near-unlimited storage life
Economical and widely available in bulk
Insulating qualities of some forms can help protect goods against extreme temperatures

Loose fill’s economical qualities are particularly relevant for smaller shippers, such as online auction sellers, who need a cost-effective packing solution that doesn’t require expensive equipment to implement. However, there are some other considerations you should be aware of before deciding that loose fill is the right solution for you.

2. If you’re shipping hazardous goods, make sure the materials comply.

Safety is paramount when shipping hazmat goods, and the most important step to safety is to know and follow relevant hazmat shipping regulations. Not all forms of loose fill packaging may be approved for use with the type of hazmat goods you’re shipping or certain types may be recommended. If you’re unsure about general safety standards for the hazmat goods you’re shipping, take a look at the DOT’s hazmat tables. Vermiculite is one type of loose fill packaging that’s useful in shipping both hazmat and non-hazmat materials, thanks to its cushioning and moisture-absorbent properties. Air Sea also offers complete 4GV-compliant shipping kits for certain hazmat types, such as lithium batteries, that include preferred loose-fill materials in pre-measured quantities. One important part of compliance, no matter what shipping method you’re using, is using UN-compliant hazmat labels on all hazmat goods. Air Sea has a complete selection of hazmat placards available in tough peel-and-stick vinyl that resists fading. These labels will help keep handlers informed of hazmat risks at every stage of your cargo’s journey.

3. You may need to supplement with other materials.

Whether or not you’re shipping hazmat goods, you should be aware of other shipping materials that you can deploy alongside loose fill packaging, including:

Reusable non-toxic gel packs to ensure that goods stay at the proper temperature
Heavy-duty shipping tape to keep packages tightly sealed
Shrink wrap and bubble wrap to keep goods immobilized and provide additional protection
Corrugated overpack boxes that provide an extra layer of protection and can make your goods easier to handle
Individual polyethylene bags to keep goods separated

These additional packaging elements are part of Air Sea’s commitment to creating one-stop solutions for hazmat and non-hazmat shippers alike.

4. Be aware of static electricity hazards that can damage electronics.

One known issue with packing peanuts is their static shock hazard. The movement of the polystyrene peanuts against each other can create a significant static charge, and this can damage sensitive electronics if the fill material discharges into the electronic device. For this reason, many large carriers, such as UPS, recommend that polystyrene peanuts not be used to ship electronics. Air Sea offers anti-static loose fill options such as our sealed-air peanuts, but, if you’re shipping electronics, you may want to consider other options than packing peanuts. Bio-Degradable Sealed Air Peanuts

Air/Sea Biodegradable Sealed Air Peanuts

5. Consider eco-friendly fill material options.

Loose fill packaging has a reputation for being less sustainable than some other methods, and it’s true that sustainability isn’t a strong point of polystyrene. With so many eco-friendly packaging options now available, it pays to consider all of your options. Air Sea Containers offers several packaging options with improved eco-friendly features, including:

Biodegradable sealed-air peanuts that are price-competitive with polystyrene peanuts and offer comparable performance
Recyclable and reusable dunnage air bags to keep your goods’ outer packaging in place during transit
Biodegradable air pillows that offer the lightweight and cost-effective qualities of loose fill but in a greener package

It’s also good to remember that polystyrene is reusable—so, if you have a way to save your packing peanuts rather than throwing them away, even this method can be made more sustainable. No matter what shipping method you choose, Air Sea Containers will be there every step of the way as your packaging partner. To find out more about our many packaging solutions, loose fill and otherwise, call us at (866) 596-9448 or contact us online.