A liquid-absorbing, impact-absorbing packaging container for protecting packaged items such as bottled liquids, while providing absorbency in the event of a liquid spill. The container material is created from a mixture of an inorganic liquid-absorbing agent such as vermiculite, and a cellulosic material such as paper pulp, which mixture is then formed into a container material, for packaging an article such as a glass bottle. The containers and container materials of this invention are substantially free of dust and/or loose particles.