Why We Use Biodegradable Packing Peanuts

Let's talk packing peanuts!

The Oregon Soap Company is always striving to take an extra step forward to protect our Earth! If you have ordered our soap before, you may have noticed that sometimes we use packing peanuts to protect your shipment. Most packing peanuts are usually made from Polystyrene, which is also known as Styrofoam. Styrofoam is a type of expanded plastic that works well for packing items because they are lightweight and add additional support and padding.

Packing peanuts are bad for the environment for many reasons. Unfortunately, Styrofoam packing peanuts are non-biodegradable, so they stick around for a long time after used. They are recyclable; however, they tend to end up thrown away or floating in our oceans, lakes, and waterways. Styrofoam packing peanuts are very little so animals often think that they’re food. When eaten, these can cause a lot of health risks.

At Oregon Soap Company, we try to do everything possible to move away from harmful products, and there is almost always a great alternative for doing so!

Fortunately for you and the environment, the packing peanuts we use are made out of corn and are 100% biodegradable! They dissolve when placed under running hot water and are even edible (though they don’t taste very good!).

Biodegradable packing peanuts are more practical and much better for the Earth. These packing peanuts also don't require as much energy to produce, and the chemicals used to make them are less harmful. If you’d like more information on our packing peanuts, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.