Intermix Radio @ Fairburn's Third Fridays

HOOK

That satisfying “crunch” when you open a box? Or the squishy layer protecting your new laptop? That’s packaging foam doing its job. Let’s unwrap the science behind it.

HISTORY / ORIGIN

Before modern foams, people used straw, shredded paper, and even horsehair to cushion fragile items. The real breakthrough came in the 1940s with the invention of expanded polystyrene (EPS) – better known as Styrofoam. During World War II, researchers developed foamed plastics for flotation devices and insulation. By the 1950s and 60s, packaging foams exploded into everyday life: electronics, food containers, furniture, and medical shipments. Today, with e‑commerce booming, packaging foams are more important than ever – and also evolving toward sustainable alternatives.

TYPES OF PACKAGING FOAMS