Polystyrene Packaging
Polystyrene packaging is used to protect goods from damage, due to the shock absorbent qualities of the material. It is cheap and can be moulded into almost any shape, making it ideal for packaging many consumer products. Polystyrene is commonly referred to as white foam packaging, although solid polystyrene also has a variety of uses. Solid Polystyrene is used in CD and DVD jewel cases, and is also used as Petri dishes in laboratories. Polystyrene in this form is fairly rigid, and is known as extruded polystyrene.
Polystyrene Packaging
Polystyrene packaging is often used to protect high quality, expensive goods. Office equipment and electronic components are often packaged with polystyrene to protect the goods during transportation. The shape of the packaging can be created to exact specifications, which makes it ideal to be used in automated production lines.
Food Packaging
Polystyrene is commonly used in food packaging. It is less expensive than other methods of packaging. Polystyrene food packaging has resistance to humidity and protects food from damage. Polystyrene food packaging is often used to display fruit and vegetables in supermarkets. It is also a hygienic method for packaging food as it does not allow bacterial growth.
Polystyrene food packaging has good insulating properties, allowing the food to be kept at the correct temperature. This reduces the spoilage of food in comparison to cardboard packaging.
The use of polystyrene in food packaging has a number of environmental benefits. Polystyrene foam is lightweight as it contains 90% air, meaning less fuel is used in the transportation of food. The manufacturing process is also relatively pollution free. Recycling of polystyrene packaging is also increasing, with many recycling plants able to process this plastic.
Polystyrene Sheets
Polystyrene sheets are used to fill voids in packaging to protect products. They give high shock protection, and are ideal to protect separate layers in boxes. They are lightweight, and so do not significantly increase the weight of packaged goods. Polystyrene sheets used to contain CFCS, which damage the ozone layer, however this is no longer added in the manufacturing process.
Polystyrene sheets also come in the form of high impact polystyrene. This reduces the brittleness of the polystyrene sheet, making it less likely to snap. It also increases the impact strength of the sheet.
Polystyrene Beads
Polystyrene beads are small lumps of polystyrene which function as loose, protective packaging. They are used to protect many consumer goods, and are also contained within some bean bags and soft toys. They are commonly known as ‘packing peanuts’, as they are created in the shape of unshelled peanuts.
Polystyrene beads are shaped to interlock when compressed, which increases their shock absorbent qualities. They are not recommended for use for heavy items, as a heavy item will often move to the bottom of the box during transportation. However, they are useful for lighter items and can be reused numerous times. They are often used in combination with other forms of polystyrene with the polystyrene beads used to fill any gaps in the packaging.