Eco-Foam Biodegradable Peanuts Discount School Supply started using Eco-Foam peanuts in 1995. Eco-Foam peanuts are made with corn starch, a biodegradable material. They're safe to reuse in packing or for projects – or simply wash them down the drain with warm water! Traditional packing peanuts are made of polystyrene, a non-biodegradable material which clogs up landfills. In fact, some 200 million cubic feet of polystyrene packaging is used every year in the United States. Get Started! Dab a foam piece onto a wet sponge or paper towel. The moisture causes the foam to make its own "glue." You can even lick them - they're non-toxic! Press and hold one piece to another piece, count to three to "set." Wet and stick additional pieces. Using the "dab-and-stick" technique, make an animal shape, a necklace, a simple structure - anything you can imagine! You can even make a light-weight hat! Simply use dab-and-stick foam pieces to each other using the form of a large, overturned bowl covered with plastic wrap. Eco-foam Activity Ideas Eco-friendly: Layer a clear cup or glass jar with potting soil, foam peanuts, and more soil. In another clear container, place layers of potting soil, plastic wrap and/or juice box pieces, and more soil. Add water to both and wait. Compare what happens in the two containers. Science: Place foam peanuts into a small container and add liquid. What happens with cold water, warm water, oil, liquid watercolor, etc? What causes the foam to break down quickly? Sensory Table: Simply spray the foam peanuts with colored water for a squishy, slippery, non-toxic mix. Spatial/Visual Thinking: Using toothpicks or skewers, connect foam pieces to each other. Place the tooth pick through the center of a foam piece and stick another foam piece on the ends. How many foam pieces can you connect before your structure collapses? Warm Weather "Snow": Foam peanuts can be stuck together to form basic snowflake shapes, or worked into a larger form as a "snowball" or even snow people. You can even show how snow melts by misting the forms with water and watching them slowly dissolve. Call us toll-free at 1-800-627-2829