Advantages of Using Foam For Packaging

by Jessica W. Writer

Using foam as a packaging material can spell a wide range of benefits. Besides being eco-friendly and lightweight, it has many other properties that make it ideal for packing and transporting delicate goods.

Among the popular materials that are used in the packaging industry and also for transporting goods, foam is most commonly preferred by manufacturers and businesses to ship a variety of commodities. Since it is made using reused polymers, foam is cheap as well as easily available. It is manufactured by melting polymer compounds and placing them into moulds of various shapes, which allows the creation of custom designs. There a wide range of benefits that can be reaped from using foam in Sydney as a packaging material.

Water Resistant :

Since the structure of foam consists of countless microscopic bubbles packed close to one another, it gives the material a property to repel water. Therefore, goods packed inside it remain safe from water and moisture in the external environment during transit. This water resistant property also forms a barrier against corrosive or oil based solvents.

Lightweight and Sturdy :

Foam is basically plastic puffed up with air, so it is very light in weight. This feature makes the material act like a shock-absorber, which is capable of dealing with excessive pressure and protecting the goods packed in it from damage without itself adding to the overall weight. Thus, the products remain safe even if there are sudden jerks during transportation. Moreover, the cost of shipping also gets reduced due to less weight because load of a cargo generally plays an important role in determining its transportation expenses.

Versatile :

Since foam is highly resilient in structure, it can be manufactured as per shape and size of the goods to be packed. Polythene foam rolled into sheets are used for packing a variety of products. Platforms made using this material can be cut and formed into varied shapes for fitting inside hollow goods. Some companies even design complex boxes that have minute apartments, for transporting electronic devices and gadgets.

Insulator and Fire Resistant :

When electronic goods are to be transported, foam also acts as an excellent insulation material. Due to its anti-static property, it prevents build up of electric charges. Besides that, some variants of it are also manufactured using specific additives which make them fire resistant. This makes it easier to transport delicate goods that might be sensitive to heat.

Recyclable :

Another advantage of using foam as a packaging material is that it can be recycled. After the packed goods have reached their destination, the foam may be sent to a recycling station. Thus, it reduces the environmental footprint of packaging materials used in various industries.