Insulated Shipping Container and Method of Making

Abstract

An insulating shipping container includes an exterior box formed of paper defining a cavity and an interior box formed of paper and positioned within said cavity. The interior box defines a product cavity. A compressed mass of compostable insulating plant material of pellet/granular form is received in the cavity and around the interior box. The compressed mass of compostable insulating plant material has a compression ratio of at least 1.25:1 in comparison to a free-flowing loose-filled condition of the pellet/granular form sufficient to provide the compressed mass of compostable insulating plant material with a thermal insulating value (R value) substantially equal to or better than EPS.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . Thermally insulating packaging, comprising:
 first and second paper layers arranged in parallel; and   a layer of compressed starch foam pellets sandwiched between and directly contacting the first and second layers.   
     
     
         3 . The packaging of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second paper layers comprise cardboard or paperboard. 
     
     
         4 . The packaging of  claim 2 , wherein the compressed starch foam pellets have a compression ratio of at least 1.25:1 in comparison to a free-flowing loose-filled condition for the starch foam pellets. 
     
     
         5 . The packaging of  claim 2 , wherein starch foam pellets comprise a vegetable starch. 
     
     
         6 . The packaging of  claim 2 , wherein starch foam pellets comprise a corn starch. 
     
     
         7 . The packaging of  claim 2 , wherein the pellets have a length and a diameter less than the length.