When looking for an alternative to dirty Styrofoam waste or expensive foil bubble fillers on European markets, many e-commerce customers come across the so-called "starch crisps" for packages (popular fillers that dissolve instantly in water - which are based on expanded corn starch). How does this solution directly relate to cheap, versatile, brownwrapping paper?
Key to shock physics: Brittleness or Elasticity of form?
Starch Biodegradable Packaging Crisps are lovely, eco-friendly, and relatively cheap for very light products (like vials, fragrances, or precision electronics). Unfortunately, they have one huge engineering flaw in transport: under the pressure of a heavy detail (e.g. a 15-kilogram pump, rims or jugs), the crisps are permanently crushed, turning into a dense mass. They do not return to their previous spatial volume. As a result, the heavy product "falls" dangerously to the bottom of the courier box.
Meanwhile, strong, kneaded paper filler from a roll, e.g. 90-100 g/m² - thanks to shape memory and dents, it creates a kind of barrier, providing resistance and cushioning the parcel without crushing it into dust.
The problem of atmospheric moisture on pallets
Due to the fact that soluble, biodegradable corn chips rapidly absorb moisture particles and water from the air in the hall like a sponge, transport in the rain or accidental getting wet can irreversibly "dissolve" the protective layer. The sticky stuff will also mercilessly and in an ugly way stick to your precious goods. Thick gray wrapping paper (so-called kraft) does not melt, and even in the event of minor spills it retains its cellulose fiber structure.
Giant consumption of expensive space in halls (Storage Cost)
Every professional e-commerce logistics knows: space on a high-bay shelf on pallets costs a lot of money. Light and voluminous crisps are packed in large bags that take up every inch of storage space. Instead of this giant air balloon - a tiny workstation will accommodate a tightly wound professional roll of 400 mb wrapping paper (weighing approx. 13 kg), which, when crushed, will give an amortization volume equal to many bags of crisps, absolutely without wasting valuable space!