Foam peanuts, also known as foam popcorn, packing peanuts, or packing noodles, are a common loose-fill packaging and cushioning material used to prevent damage to fragile objects during shipping. They are shaped to interlock when compressed and free flow when not compressed. They are roughly the size and shape of an unshelled peanut and commonly made of expanded polystyrene foam. 50–75 millimetres of peanuts are typically used for cushioning and void filling packaging applications. The original patent was filed for by Robert E. Holden in 1962 and was granted in 1965.
Foam peanuts (made of expanded polystyrene)
The inner structure of a foam peanut, magnified 390x on an SEM
Packaging peanuts made from bioplastics (thermoplastic starch)
Package cushioning is used to protect items during shipment. Vibration and impact shock during shipment and loading/unloading are controlled by cushioning to reduce the chance of product damage.
Molded expanded polystyrene cushioning
Transit case showing internal shock mounting
End caps and corner blocks
Molded pulp cushioning