Popcorn eco-friendly packaging

[Hedgehoggy]

Apologies if this subject has previously been covered.

I recently received a delivery from an eco-friendly company and was surprised to find that the large cardboard box containing my items was completely packaged with POPCORN! I thought this was a brilliant eco-friendly innovation compared to those usual awful polystyrene balls used in packaging.

Apparently the popcorn packaging is not only biodegradable, but it is also 60% lighter than the shredded paper previously used by this company, which means it takes 10% less energy to transport. Plus, no additional packaging is needed inside the box.

I have also discovered another benefit to this packaging – the birds love it! I’ve watched the blackbirds, starlings, magpies and carrion crows tuck into this popcorn, alongside the other foods I put out for them everyday. I’m storing this free bird food in a large lidded plastic container to keep it fresher for longer. I’m very pleased with my unexpected 2 in 1 purchase indeed!

[tameblackbirds]

sounds like a brilliant idea assuming its not salty much better than those polystyrene shapes

[Hedgehoggy]

Originally Posted by tameblackbirds

sounds like a brilliant idea assuming its not salty much better than those polystyrene shapes

I tasted a piece before offering it to the birds to make sure it was unsalted! It's just plain popcorn.

[tameblackbirds]

brill free food lucky birds just need a good movie for them now

[Hedgehoggy]

Oooh yes, Hitchcock's 'The Birds' would seem apt at certain times of the day in my garden!!

[tameblackbirds]

Originally Posted by hedgehoggy

:d Oooh Yes, Hitchcock's 'the Birds' Would Seem Apt At Certain Times Of The Day In My Garden!! :d

Lol :d:d

[Jim Ford]

I wonder if it's made from maize that's been declared unfit for human consumption e.g. vermin contamination. I wouldn't eat it because of this possibility!

Jim

[Dutchess]

Not only that Jim, but remember all the energy that had to be used to "pop" it!

[Hedgehoggy]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

I wonder if it's made from maize that's been declared unfit for human consumption e.g. vermin contamination. I wouldn't eat it because of this possibility!Jim

Jim, I wasn’t advocating feeding it to humans, just to the birdies! (I merely tasted a little piece to ensure it was unsalted and I'm still alive!)

Originally Posted by Dutchess

Not only that Jim, but remember all the energy that had to be used to "pop" it!

I should think less energy is used in this method of packaging than the energy used to produce polystyrene, bubble wrap, etc, but the greatest advantage is that if folk choose not to feed the popcorn to the birdies, it’s 100% biodegradable and can be composted.

There are some very good reviews on this packaging on some of the ethical consumerism websites such as Hippyshopper and Ethical Living Blog.

Anyway, I personally think it’s a positive step in the right direction (as do my garden birds!) to reduce the 10 million tonnes of packaging waste currently produced in the UK every year.

This has now given me much food for thought (‘scuse the pun!) and has got me wondering what other alternative forms of green packaging could be used?

[Dutchess]

Yes, I wondered if that may be the case, Hedgehoggy Thanks for the info, I hadn't researched around it myself.

Cheers,

D.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Hedgehoggy

This has now given me much food for thought (‘scuse the pun!) and has got me wondering what other alternative forms of green packaging could be used?

Sometimes I get packaging which is like beige 'wotsits' and smells strongly of wheat. It turns into a light mush in water and can be rinsed away.

Jim

[Hedgehoggy]

Did you not taste one of them before rinsing them down the sink, Jim?

*goes off to google beige wheat wotsits*

[Dutchess]

Those "packaging peanuts" are made from cornstarch I believe, so yes - very similar to Wotsits!

D.

[Jez]

Originally Posted by Dutchess

Those "packaging peanuts" are made from cornstarch I believe, so yes - very similar to Wotsits!

D.

& not so cheesy on the taste buds either!

[Soupdragon]

And it's a free toy - you can make things with them if you just damp them slightly with a cloth, they stick together, so you can build things.

[Wild-Woman]

Now if they could make edible cardboard boxes, all would be sorted.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Soupdragon

And it's a free toy - you can make things with them if you just damp them slightly with a cloth, they stick together, so you can build things.

That's a very good idea. I must save some next time and give it a try!

They smell 'wheaty' rather than 'corny' - rather like Puffed Wheat.

Jim

[Hobjob]

Funny old world

Half the world is short of food and now we are using
food as packaging