It's hard to remember what packaging and shipping were like before the invention of packing peanuts. Also known as loose fill, Styrofoam packing peanuts cushion and insulate everything from fragile consumer goods to electronics to heavy duty-industrial parts. New developments in this simple, indispensable product include self-interlocking packer peanuts to reduce loose fill shift, anti-static packing peanuts for use in shipping computers and green alternatives like recycled and non-Styrofoam packaging peanuts.
Ironically, one of the problems with keeping this shipping necessity on hand is having them shipped to you. Large bags of bulk packing peanuts take up lots of space and exceed the size limitations for most overnight shippers. Keep these other considerations in mind when ordering loose fill:
1. Choose products based on your uses for packing peanuts; buy the type of packaging peanuts best suited to the goods you ship.
2. Work with distributors of industrial packing peanuts who offer reliable customer service and flexible shipping options.
3. Order loose fill dispensers to make working with bulk Styrofoam peanuts more convenient.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Get great deals on bulk Styrofoam peanuts
Buying in bulk means your business won't run short of packing peanuts. You can find low prices on basic Styrofoam packing peanuts or anti-static packaging peanuts for shipping sensitive electronics, and distributors are often willing to make shipping arrangements for bulk packing peanuts orders that will save you even more money.
I recommend: Sendsupplies.com offers free 1- to 3-day shipping on its largest bulk packaging peanuts order, 370 gallons shipped as ten 37-gallon bags of packing peanuts. For heavy duty industrial packing peanuts, take advantage of the low pricing on Flo-Pak solid center packing peanuts at
PackingPrice.com.
Paper Mart offers bags of Storo-Pak anti-static packaging peanuts in several sizes, and will arrange drop shipments for customers in the San Diego, CA area.
Select green alternatives to standard Styrofoam packing peanuts
Your customers will appreciate your commitment to the environment when you choose recycled packaging peanuts or non-Styrofoam packaging peanut alternatives. Going green doesn't need to cost you more if you seek out deals on biodegradable or recycled packing peanuts.
I recommend: Join companies such as Williams-Sonoma that are generating customer goodwill by using Flo-Pak's Super 8 100% recycled packing peanuts. Get bulk discounts on multiple bags of Super 8 packing peanuts and an additional online ordering discount from
Ameripac Industries.
ULINE's biodegradable cornstarch packer peanuts dissolve in water and are FDA approved.
Cushion Cubes from UTP Technologies, Inc., offer a reusable, recyclable alternative to Styrofoam packaging peanuts.
Easily store and use bags of packer peanuts with a loose fill dispenser
For round-the-clock shipping efficiency, install loose fill dispensers that allow your employees to control the flow of packaging peanuts into shipping containers with a flip of the hand. Dispensers consist of large fabric reservoirs suspended over your packaging line. Fill the dispenser with bags of packaging peanuts, and let gravity feed the valve-controlled filler tube at the bottom.
I recommend: BrassPack Packing Supply offers packing peanut dispensers in three sizes, along with replacement valves. Go to
Fast-Pack.com for loose fill dispensers in a range of capacities from 15 to 140 cu. ft. All ropes and pulleys are included.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Generally, bags of packaging peanuts larger than 12 cu. ft. require shipping by motor freight. The convenience of bulk ordering may make up for the added delivery time and costs. If your needs are limited, save shipping time and storage space by ordering packing peanuts in 3-cu.-ft. boxes.
The official source of Packing Peanuts is the Packing Peanuts page at Business.com
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