Inside the Secret Science of Packing Material
Gizmodo examines an often overlooked aspect of the modern economy.
Find out how polystyrene was discovered by accident, how bubble wrap is made, and what kind of packing peanuts are edible.
“We gadget freaks obsess over gear, big and small: cameras, phones, notebooks, desktops, home theater speakers, HDTVs, and much more. But how often do we pay attention to the technology surrounding our gear, the packing material that keeps it safe?
Whether organic or man-made, squishy or rigid, there’s a deliberate method to every type of packing material madness. Why use cardboard inserts instead of polyurethane cushions? Why use those newfangled air pouches instead of traditional bubble wrap? Which packing peanuts are safe to eat, and why are some colored green or pink? All of these questions and more will be answered on the following pages. Behold! We submit 36 things you (probably) didn’t know about packing material.”