Fluffy, Fluffier, and Fluffiest: Creating and Testing Biodegradable Starch Packing Peanuts

As e-commerce increases, the demand for packaging materials and the potential for generating waste and negative environmental impacts also rise. Packing peanuts are a type of plastic packaging material that are used to protect goods during the shipping process. Petroleum-based plastics are common packaging materials due to their low cost, light weight, and versatility. Traditional packing peanuts are made of polystyrene, which is not biodegradable and contributes to landfill waste. Starch-based packing peanuts are biobased and a more sustainable alternative. This article describes the implementation and assessment of a hands-on laboratory activity appropriate for high school students (ages 14 to 18). In the lab, students create cornstarch-based packing peanuts with different properties and carry out follow-up experiments to test the peanuts' performance. This article includes observations and student data that were collected from implementation in four science classes predominantly at rural high schools in a Southeastern state in the U.S. This lab can be adapted to chemistry, environmental science, and physical science classes to augment lessons on topics such as polymers, polarity, bonding, and renewable and nonrenewable resources.