If you are making plans to celebrate Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22, you might be considering a variety of options: picking up trash in your neighborhood, planting a pollinator-friendly garden or making a commitment to reusable water bottles. As you make your plans, you may also want to include taking a look at REfoam+.
REfoam+ is the result of an innovative process developed by Plastilite. As pioneers in the industry who care about the environment and its inhabitants, the company created REfoam+ as a biodegradable Expanded Polysterene (EPS).
How does it work? REfoam+ is biodegradable in biologically-active landfills. This means that, like any biodegradable material, it requires oxygen, moisture and heat to break down. In biologically-active landfills, liquids are added and air is pumped in to make this breakdown possible.
REfoam+ is also made with up to 30% post-consumer and post-industrial recycled content.
How long does it take to break down? The goal of a partnership with EcoLogic was to take what is usually a decades-long process and make it much shorter. REfoam+ is made with EcoLogic’s Eco-One® material and has been shown to reach 64% biodegradation in only 16 months.
Some biodegradation occurs in as little as 30 days, but the rate depends on factors like density and thickness, as well as the level of activity at the given landfill.
EPS, and specifically REfoam+ is a light and porous material, comprised 98% of air. This makes it ideal for biodegradation.
What is REfoam+ used for? While it can be molded into any shape, one of the more common uses of REfoam+ is in foam shipping coolers. It is ideal for transporting frozen foods, as well as other cold chain shipping applications, such as vaccines, fresh foods and chocolate.
The product is lightweight, yet strong. It retains its molecular structure, even as the product is recycled again and again.
Ready to learn more? Whether you are celebrating Earth Day or consider preserving the environment to be a central value for your company, REfoam+ is a good choice for packing materials. Contact us today to discuss your temperature-sensitive shipping requirements.