 | Michael LyonsUsername: Michael J. Lyons |
Location
Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Role
Packaging Materials SupplierIndustry
Non-foodJob Title
PresidentCompany
Simpak InternationalRecent Discussions
What is greener? Biodegradable or 100% recycled?
We make a protective packaging pad. It is comprised of foam beads vacuum packed in a plastic envelop. Right now our product is made of 100% recylced foam beads and can be reused. With it's cushion curves we can reduce the amount of packaging and provide equal or better protection. It can also be recylced again at end of life. My question is from a corporate strategy perspective, what is greener? Product A - made of biodegradable foam beads and packed in a biodegradable plastic envelop. Product B - made of 100% reclycled foam and packed in a recylced plastic envelop.
Posted March 16, 2010
Comments
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Useful Website Sandra!
Thank you for your comments Sandra, I have come to the same conclusion after conversing with many on this thread as well as others for the last several months. I have also found that your website will come in handy when a customer of our product calls us for a nearest recycling center to them. Thanks! Mike
Useful uses
Dr. Manic, Landfills have been mixing EPS foam beads into their soil for many years and their is a very popular product called Perlite that gardners can purchase that has small EPS beads mixed in the soil and I believe they put it in concrete blocks used for insulating housing foundations. But your point is well taken, before we would recommend uses we would need to do our legal homework. I do know the EPS beads we have now are flame retardant, but I don't know if that means they are safe to put in an attic. It is an idea that I am going to look into. My bet is there are companies blowing EPS flame retardant beads in attics for insulation now, but I am not willing to bet the farm (or business) on it! Thanks for your comments, Mike
That would be useful
Dr. Manic, Thank you for your comments. This is why I started the topic. Simpak is looking for information that can make ourselves a "better" environmental product for our customers. And you are right about we have to work within the perimeters of profitablility or we wouldn't be around long. Your last comment on whether someone can make any suggestions to help prevent Simpak's product from entering into the waste stream would be very helpful. I don't think there is going to be an easy answer but there are smarter people out there than me that might have some ideas. One of our thoughts at Simpak would be to print on the Simpad different uses you could use the foam beads around the house, and throw the PE film that encases the beads into the household recyling bin. My two favorite uses around the house for the foam beads are to pour the beads in the attic for additional insulation, you won't notice the difference on the utility bill but it won't do anything but help. The second is for the gardners and landscapers out there that can take the beads and mix them in the soil to aerate the soil allowing a lighter density soil that will take nutrients better. Mike
Choice
Dr. Manic, I started this topic so that I could gather information on the two options Bio or Recycled because at this point I need to make a decision of whether I (Simpak International) should make an investment into offering a biodegradable option in protective packaging in addition to the reclycled one that I offer today. My gut feeling is the Bio is not really a environmental option without composting facilities and a recylced product has a better "chance" of being reused, obviously depending on the recylcling structure of where our product ends up. Mike
Another point
Jeff, I don't think the participates of this discussion are on the wrong point at all. While issues like sustainability, CO2 emissions, air pollution are all part of the overall environmental equation, the specific topic for dicussion was biodegradable VS recycled. Mike
Offline
Sherri, I would love to ask you a few questions regarding Costco packaging. If you have an interest please email me at mlyons@simpakinternational.com Thanks, Mike
EPS best alternative
Sherri, Thank you for your comments and feeling my pain! What retailer do you work for? Mike
Thanks Jon, I have a
Thanks Jon, I have a question. I have been told that any plastic, bio, oxo, or standard will not degrade once it is covered in a landfill and sunlight and moisture aren't present. Is that true? Mike
Bio VS Reclycled
Buzz, Thanks for the feedback and I think most of us are on the same page, and that is recognizing that there are many innovations needed for there to be truly a "eco friendly Bio solution" and we will, as you say, muddle through it every step of the way. That is why I am trying to gather as many articles as I can that point out the challenges of Biodegradable plastics to provide to my prospects and customers so that they can make an informed decision. Take care and thanks again for participating! Mike
Methane gasses from plastics biodegrading?
Sherri, Interesting comments! can you forward me info on this to my email at mlyons@simpakinternational.com. I am trying to build a database on the topic of biodegradable plastics. But if I am keeping score, it appears the recylcling proponents are batting a thousand over the biodegradable proponents. Can we get some feedback from the BIO side of the isle to make this blog more interesting? Mike