Discover how to make biodegradable polystyrene packaging peanuts completely disappear
In a world where home deliveries are now the norm for almost all of us, the amount of packaging that is used every day is truly enormous. This means that tons of cardboard, paper, plastic and polystyrene (to name just a few materials) are used and then thrown away constantly. Managing the disposal of plastic is a delicate matter, as is - if not more so - the case of synthetic polystyrene. How many times, inside a package, do we find these white peanuts that keep the contents of the package safe? Once removed, they are usually disposed of in the garbage, but they are very difficult to dispose of permanently.
For some time now, many companies around the world have been producing biodegradable polystyrene packing peanuts, which decompose over time and without creating waste that is difficult to manage. And you can easily find out if the packaging peanuts that has arrived at your home belongs in this category.
As you can see in the TikTok video from @everything_tidy account, truly biodegradable packing peanuts dissolve in water. This is because they are usually made from corn starch. They have the same characteristics as those made from synthetic materials, but when you throw them away, they leave no trace.
To find out if the packaging peanuts you have are of this type, just take a few and hold them under running water: if they melt and dissolve, then they are biodegradeable.
Once determined, take a large basin and pour the remaining packaging peanuts into it. Turn on the running water and, using a ladle or spatula, stir to dissolve all the peanuts. You will see that they dissolve completely in the water. Thereafter, all you need to do is rinse out the basin (or sink) properly.
Furthermore, being materials of vegetable origin, the water that goes down the drain won't be harmful to the environment! A small step to help take care of the planet, don't you think?
