[Elecraft] Packing Peanuts -- I HATE THEM !

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Real popcorn was used in the USA as far back as WWII and I saw it tested by
a few companies in the 60's and 70's. It was 'dry popped' (no oil). It
offered the advantages of being very cheap, took up very little space as
kernels needing only a small machine that produced very hot air to pop it on
demand, and it was 100% biodegradable. 

A few of the drawbacks that quickly appeared in the company where I worked
were:

1) Lots of broken corn debris including the "flopcorn" (kernels that didn't
pop), making it necessary to securely wrap the product to keep it out.

2) Rodents and other corn-loving critters in the shipping department unless
every corner and crevice was kept absolutely clean (which tended to drive
the critters into the labs and offices). 

When they appeared plastic peanuts were adopted with enthusiasm. 

Ron AC7AC