Lost $200 on those biodegradable packing peanuts last quarter

I bought a bulk box of those eco-friendly cornstarch packing peanuts thinking I was doing the right thing, but they dissolved in a humid warehouse and ruined a dozen shipments. Has anyone found a compostable filler that actually holds up in storage?

3 comments

3 Comments

adam_lewis1mo ago

Not quite accurate calling them cornstarch. Most of those biodegradable peanuts are actually made from sorghum or wheat now. Corn ones melt way faster, but the wheat ones hold up better in humidity if you get the right brand.

the_james1mo ago

Stick with the biodegradable ones but store them in sealed containers or climate controlled space. I buy the green kind from EcoFiber and keep them in heavy duty contractor bags with silica packs thrown in, haven't lost a single shipment in two years of doing this. The problem isn't the product, it's treating cornstarch like styrofoam and expecting it to hold up the same way in humidity. You just gotta adjust your storage setup instead of blaming the material.

jamesf261mo ago

Right, "doing the right thing" until my warehouse looked like a giant's spilled packing popcorn soup.