Molded pulp

Interior packaging for a tap or faucet

Molded pulp or molded fiber (also spelled as moulded pulp or moulded fibre) is a packaging material, that is typically made from recycled paperboard and/or newsprint. It is used for protective packaging or for food service trays and beverage carriers. Other typical uses are end caps, trays, plates, bowls and clamshell containers.[1]

For many applications, molded pulp is less expensive than expanded polystyrene (EPS), vacuumed formed polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), corrugation, and foams.

Molded pulp is often considered a sustainable packaging material,[2] as defined by the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, since it is produced from recycled materials, and can be recycled again after its useful life-cycle.

Molded pulp products can be made waterproof with a spray or dip coating of wax.

  1. ^ Weaver, R; Twede, D (2007), The History of Molded Fiber Packaging; a 20th Century Pulp Story, Proceedings of the 23rd IAPRI Conference, International Association of Packaging Research Institutes., CiteSeerX 10.1.1.466.6651
  2. ^ Definition of Sustainable Packaging Archived 2009-03-06 at the Wayback Machine