PaperWave Air Cushions

Award: International Gold Award—Sustainability

Company: AirWave Packaging Inc.; airwave-packaging.com

Description: PaperWave air cushions are an FSC® (C162510)-certified, compostable packaging
solution designed to protect a wide range of e-commerce shipments. Made from 100% recycled paper, they deliver high-performance cushioning with substantial environmental benefits. The certified home-compostable sealing layer is an ultra-thin film made from potato starch and a compostable plasticizer. PaperWave can replace more than 80% of the plastic air pillows currently used in e-commerce. The material composition includes recycled FSC® paper, a potato-starch blend sourced from food-processing waste, biodegradable adhesives, compostable inks, and calcium carbonate as a natural binder. The entire composite is fully compostable and biodegradable within 90 days, even if misdisposed of or exposed to marine environments. Available as a cold-water-soluble version, AquaWave, and in over 60 colors through the PRISMA range, PaperWave proves that sustainability can be both effective and beautiful.