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Packing Peanuts
Packing peanuts — also known as loose fill or packaging peanuts — are one of the most effective ways to fill empty space in a box and cushion fragile or delicate items against knocks and movement in transit. Our Eco Flo range replaces traditional polystyrene packing peanuts with a biodegradable, compostable alternative made from GM-free starch — offering the same impact protection without the environmental cost.
Lightweight enough not to add meaningfully to your parcel weight, odourless, dust-free, and available in bulk quantities, they're a practical choice for operations despatch fragile goods at volume.
Why choose biodegradable packing peanuts?
Traditional polystyrene packing peanuts never break down — they fragment into microplastics and persist in the environment indefinitely. Our starch-based Eco Flo packing peanuts dissolve in water, biodegrade naturally, and can be composted — making them a genuinely sustainable swap rather than a compromise. Starch is an annually renewable resource, which means the environmental footprint of producing them is fundamentally different to petrochemical-based polystyrene.
If your customers are receiving polystyrene loose fill and you'd like to make the switch, biodegradable packing peanuts are one of the more straightforward changes you can make — same application, no process change needed.
What to use packing peanuts with
Packing peanuts work best as part of a broader protective packaging approach. A few combinations worth knowing:
For fragile items, pair packing peanuts with bubble wrap or packing paper to wrap the item itself before bedding it in loose fill — this gives you surface protection as well as cushioning against impact.
For a fully plastic-free alternative to polystyrene loose fill, our eco alternatives to bubble wrap range includes shredded cardboard and paper-based cushioning that performs a similar void fill function. Shredded paper is another popular loose fill option — particularly for retail and gift packaging where appearance inside the box matters.
For higher-volume operations where dispensing packing peanuts by hand is a bottleneck, our paper void fill systems and air cushion machines offer faster, more consistent void fill at scale.
Packing peanuts are particularly effective inside double wall cardboard boxes for heavier or more fragile consignments where you need both strong outer protection and reliable internal cushioning.
Frequently asked questions
What are packing peanuts used for?
Packing peanuts fill empty space inside boxes to prevent contents from shifting in transit and cushion items against impact. They're one of the most widely used void fill materials for fragile goods — particularly effective for irregularly shaped items that are difficult to wrap snugly.
Are packing peanuts recyclable?
It depends on the type. Traditional polystyrene packing peanuts cannot be recycled through standard channels and should not be put in household recycling. Our starch-based Eco Flo packing peanuts are biodegradable, compostable, and dissolve in water — no specialist recycling required.
How do you dispose of biodegradable packing peanuts?
Starch-based packing peanuts can be dissolved in water, added to a compost heap, or simply left to biodegrade naturally. They won't harm garden soil or water systems. Use our recycling locator if you need to find specialist disposal for any other packaging materials.
Can you reuse packing peanuts?
Yes — packing peanuts can be reused multiple times for shipping, storage, and product protection. Our starch-based peanuts are just as effective on their second or third use as their first, provided they've been kept dry.