Molded Pulp…What is it?

Molded pulp, also referred to as molded paper pulp or molded fiber, is immediately recognized as the preferred package for eggs, and in some circles, the term “egg carton material” is synonymous with molded pulp.

Molded pulp from EnviroPAK is made of 100% recycled newspaper, and is 100% recyclable & 100% biodegradable, and exhibits a gray color, caused by vegetable based inks.  It has been used to package such delicate items as eggs and fluorescent light bulbs for years because it can be easily molded to the shape of those items and the fiber is relatively soft and cushions these delicate products by absorbing the impact. It is only recently, within the last five to ten years, that molded pulp has emerged as the interior packaging of choice for many electronic and consumer products, including computer printers, cell phones, & consumer goods.

The emergence of molded pulp as the preferred packaging material for many new applications is due to a number of factors, including the development of new, computer controlled molding equipment, which permits smaller runs and enables products to be molded with much more exact tolerances, and the need for environmentally friendly packaging.

 Molded pulp also has excellent vibration and shock resistance properties.  Additionally, some applications have passed UPS, Fed-Ex and ISTA shipping requirements. Tooling costs are typically less expensive than other packaging materials, such as thermo & vacuum formed plastics.