Hexacomb vs Molded Pulp: A Side-by-Side Comparison of Packaging Solutions

The packaging industry and packaging as a whole have become deeply ingrained and intertwined into our daily lives.

We use so much packaging every day of every year that making poor choices can hurt both our pocketbooks and the environment. For example, after they are used in packaging, materials like plastic and styrofoam can take decades to break down.

When choosing a packaging material for your project or company, it can be easy to become overwhelmed quickly. There are many packaging solutions on the market available at a wide array of costs, each with pros and cons.

Hexacomb and molded pulp are two sustainable packaging materials that have become popular choices for various industries in recent years. Both materials are biodegradable and relatively inexpensive, but when pitted against one another, which one will come out on top as the better packaging material?

Hexacomb Packaging

Hexacomb packaging is a type of packaging material that uses hexagonal cells to provide structure and support during transit, much like a honeycomb array provides structure in a beehive. Hexacomb packaging has many advantages, including its lightweight nature, customizability, and strength and resistance to impact.

While hexacomb packaging may be better for the environment than styrofoam or plastic, as a packaging solution, it is ultimately inefficient. Hexacomb packaging wastes crucial warehouse space, takes up excessive space on trucks, and wastes time on production lines while assembling components. As a result, the cumbersome nature of hexacomb packaging can negatively impact all the parts of a company’s supply chain.

In addition, while hexacomb packaging is better for the environment than its styrofoam, plastic, and other synthetic packaging materials, it is often made from non-sustainably farmed trees and lumber. It can also be hard to recycle hexacomb packaging, often making it a one-time-use material.

Molded Pulp Packaging

When comparing molded pulp packaging to hexacomb packaging, there is no contest. Molded pulp packaging is an eco-friendly packaging material already used across the US and abroad, commonly used for egg cartons and drink carriers.

While hexacomb packaging can often only be used once, a molded pulp insert is made of paper materials that have been previously used. Molded pulp packaging is often made from recycled cardboard, newspapers, and other organic fibers. It is crafted from materials that have undergone multiple recycling cycles, contributing to its eco-friendly nature.

Molded pulp packaging is also highly customizable to the various needs of multiple industries. Molded pulp packaging has no limit based on its shape, unlike hexacomb packaging with its hexagonal structural support that greatly limits its possible applications. As the name suggests, molded pulp packaging can be molded and shaped in-house to meet the needs of customers.

The shock absorptivity of molded pulp packaging is another reason why it should be considered for use in many industries when compared to hexacomb packaging. Molded pulp is a reliable protector of delicate items such as pumps, motors, gearboxes, and power tools.

With the added versatility, customizability, and sustainability afforded by molded pulp packaging, it is obvious why many fields, from agricultural to industrial, are already switching away from hexacomb packaging at all levels of their supply chain.

Keiding Incorporated’s Innovative Custom Packaging Solutions

Keiding, Inc. produces custom-made molded pulp packaging for agricultural, industrial, consumer, and specialty products.

Keiding makes its molded pulp products using an innovative, proprietary additive manufacturing technique to extrude pulp fibers and 3D print organic materials into various possible shapes and sizes. This design process allows for nearly infinite customization to meet our customers’ every need.

Learn More About Our Solutions

Using an efficient four-step design process, Keiding can process orders, prototype solutions, manufacture, and ship out our product within days of receiving an order.

To learn more about Keiding and our innovative custom molded pulp packaging products, contact us and see how we can help serve your packaging needs. You can join us in helping to create a cleaner, more sustainable future.