Read About Useful Guide to Find Moving Supplies and Packaging in Chicago

Posted by Melinda Stockton on April 9, 2011

Moving to a new house in Chicago can be exhausting. Packing alone can take so much energy out of you. If you are looking for packaging in Chicago and moving materials, you can actually find some free boxes and very affordable moving supplies in a number of places.

It can be cheap to get free boxes for your things, but you have to inspect the old boxes for insects and molds. You have to protect your personal clothing and linens from bacteria and tiny pests. You can opt to use old boxes you can get for free if you use a disinfectant spray before putting your things in the boxes.

Buying new boxes is expensive but you should seriously think about getting some new boxes for linens and clothes, especially for underwear. Before placing your personal clothing in free boxes, you should check them for bacteria causing agents and bugs. You also do not want to bring pests into your new home.

You can get free wrapping materials from appliance stores, electronics stores, the supermarket, furniture outlets, and other local stores that sell things like big TVs, washers, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, and ovens. These stores will gladly give you boxes for nothing to free up storage space in their business establishment.

You can try to see if your local USPS can give you free boxes. Sometimes they may have small boxes they can give away but they also sell big boxes by bulk. Another way to get free boxes is by visiting friends and neighbors and asking them for the boxes that came with their TVs and other big appliances and furniture.

Check the yellow pages and the Internet for moving companies in your district. You may be able to get free packaging in Chicago from professional moving companies. Some can provide free boxes and packaging supplies if you hire them to transport your things to your new house.

Discount Box Supply offers packaging in Chicago. Find out more about packaging materials in Chicago at this website about packaging.

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Biodegradable Versus Compostable – How To Avoid Greenwash In Food Containers

Posted by Ganga Patel on November 17, 2010

At the end of this article I'd like for you to be clear on 1 essential point: that the label biodegradable does not necessarily mean the same thing as the term compostable.

To start off, I am going to explain 3 things: 1) the meaning of "compostable", 2) the meaning of "biodegradable", and 3) how you can make sure that when you're buying product packaging that is labeled compostable or biodegradable, you're not being greenwashed. Let us begin.

1) The term compostable's definition is tightly controlled by the standards ASTM D-6400, ASTM D-6868, and EN13432. Calling a product compostable means 3 things. #1) Biodegradability - this requires that sixty to ninety percent of the product will break down within one hundred and eighty days when placed in an industrial composting facility. #2) Disintegration - this indicates that ninety percent of the food ware will degrade into small pieces that are two millimeters in size or smaller. #3) Eco-Toxicity - this indicates that once the food ware degrades in an industrial facility it will not leave heavy metals that are harmful to the soil beyond that of a typical set of compost.

2) The term biodegradable on the other hand, merely means that the packaging will degrade over a period of time through natural occurrences. It could stand for almost any period of time... it could be 10s of years, it could be 1000s of years. Under this definition, even a regular oil based plastic bag or package is "biodegradable" - at some point, sooner or later, it is going to break down.

3) Precisely what does this mean for food service ware? Well, you need to be looking for food ware products that are specifically labeled "compostable". There are manufacturers on the market that are applying the word "biodegradable", and they're applying it to disguise their products as eco-friendly and essentially fool you into purchasing them.

I've worked with food service retailers in San Francisco who have been notified by SF Environment and by the organics recycling center outside of San Francisco that they don't take "biodegradable" spoons because they will not compost in an industrial composting environment.

You should be looking for products that specifically say that they are compostable. If it's cups, you'll see a green colored ring and the term compostable on that cup. If it's on a fork, you will see the term compostable printed on it. You should look for the word compostable or you can see if the service ware is Biodegradable Products Institute certified. The BPI makes sure that these products uphold to the standards that we reviewed a moment ago.

So, I hope you now understand the difference between food packaging that's biodegradable vs. compostable. Good luck with your eco packaging purchases!

Get advice on buying bagasse biodegradable plates and containers or learn about the BPI's process for certifying your biodegradable food packaging products and containers.

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An Introduction To Shrink Wrap Machines

Posted by Russell Strider on November 15, 2010

Regardless of whether for commercial or domestic items, keeping both of them sealed and thoroughly clean is a necessity if shipping or storing items. Sealing specific foods in addition keeps them fresher longer. One particular process of doing this is by using one of a many types of shrink wrap machines. These machines use both heat and some variety of plastic wrap or sheeting to eliminate excessive air and then seal the plastic material around the object. The type of plastic put to use will differ with the kind of item getting sealed. Nearly anything that will withstand the heat employed can be sealed using these devices.

The devices are different in size and complexity depending on exactly what is getting sealed, and how much production you must do. Specialized shrink wrap machines are on the market for those who package things such as pharmaceutical drugs or vitamin supplements. Simply because these should not be exposed to excessive high temperature ranges, these kinds of shrink wrap machines use lighter plastic and lower temperatures to seal the bottles.

Shrink wrap devices with tunnels are the fastest and most effective strategy to package a broad variety of products. The L-bar sealer cuts the plastic film and the heat tunnel quickly shrinks it. These devices may be made use of with either PVC or Polyolefin film and are generally built to package CDs, DVDs, cushions for outdoor chairs, and other goods.

A straight bar model, also called I-bar shrink wrap machines, are made for low to mid-volume usage. The straight bar machine is utilized to cut plastic film all around an item and then a heat gun shrinks the plastic film. These types are really economical and are very uncomplicated to work with. An example of a product this could be utilized on might be frozen pizzas.

Shrink wrap L sealers are capable of quickly cutting film free of the smoke and odor of a regular straight bar sealer. The two-sided cut gives you a superior seal and accelerates product packaging. These might be employed in conjunction with a heat tunnel or a heat gun.

Heat shrink tunnels are one more method of sealing shrink film. Immediately after the shrink wrap is cut and pulled over the package, a conveyor belt directs it through a tunnel, heating and sealing the shrink film. Systems like these could be made use of to seal various meats, vegetables as well as other fresh food items for storage or sale. Children's toys like puzzles also can be sealed in this way.

Heat shrink tunnels are yet another way of sealing shrink film. After the shrink wrap is cut and pulled over the package, a conveyor belt sends it through a tunnel, heating and sealing the shrink wrap. Units like these might be utilized to seal meat, vegetables and other fresh foods for storage or sale. Children's toys such as puzzles may also be sealed this way.

You will find different brand names of each of these kinds of units readily available for any type of use. They're handy for storage of home items either for the season or until eventually the item is desired once again. Everybody can find many uses for shrink wrap machines.

Are you looking for the right shrink wrap film for your home or business? Be sure to visit my site to find out more about shrink wrap packaging materials.

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