08/09/2024
Foam polystyrene has long been a popular choice for packaging and insulation because it’s cheap and 95% air.1 But it’s not particularly good for the planet. Polystyrene is made from petroleum, is difficult to recycle, and can take centuries to decompose. However, there’s a neat solution that cinema-goers have been enjoying for years: popcorn. Researchers at Germany’s University of Göttingen have developed a ‘granulated’ popcorn made from the inedible byproducts of cornflake production.2 Using different moulds, the corn can be turned into various packaging materials, including the packing beads used to transport delicate items in the post. When finished with, it can be reused, cut, shredded or composted. The only thing you can’t do, it appears, is eat it.