BUBBLE WRAP
Bubble Wrap was invented in 1957 by engineers Alfred W. Fielding and Marc Chavannes. Interestingly, it was originally intended to be a textured wallpaper. The two inventors sealed two shower curtains together, trapping air bubbles inside, but the idea didn’t catch on as wallpaper.
Evolution of Bubble Wrap:
1. Failed Wallpaper Idea (1957) – Fielding and Chavannes tried marketing it as a new type of wallpaper, but it didn’t sell well.
2. Greenhouse Insulation (Late 1950s) – They attempted to use it as insulation for greenhouses, but it wasn’t widely adopted.
3. Protective Packaging (1960) – IBM changed everything when they needed a way to safely ship their new 1401 computer. They adopted Bubble Wrap as protective packaging, and its real purpose was born.
4. Sealed Air Corporation (1960) – The inventors founded Sealed Air Corporation, which became a leader in protective packaging.
How Bubble Wrap is Made: Bubble Wrap is made from polyethylene plastic, which starts as small resin pellets. These pellets are melted down, formed into a thin film, and then air is trapped between two layers to create the bubbles. The size and thickness of the bubbles vary depending on the type of Bubble Wrap needed.
Types of Bubble Wrap
1. Standard Bubble Wrap – Small bubbles for general protection.
2. Large Bubble Wrap – Bigger bubbles for cushioning fragile items.
3. Anti-Static Bubble Wrap – Designed for electronics to prevent static electricity.
4. Self-Adhesive Bubble Wrap – Sticks to surfaces without tape.
5. Biodegradable Bubble Wrap – More eco-friendly and decomposes faster than traditional plastic.
Uses of Bubble Wrap
Packaging – Protects fragile items during shipping.
Insulation – Helps retain heat in windows or greenhouses.
Stress Relief – Popping the bubbles is fun and therapeutic!
Arts and Crafts – Used in paintings, decorations, and even costumes.
Medical Use – Can provide cushioning for injured areas or act as padding for medical shipments.
Interesting Facts
● Bubble Wrap was almost called "Air Cap".
●There’s an official Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day, celebrated on the last Monday of January.
●A non-poppable version was introduced in 2015 to reduce shipping bulk.
●Despite its original failure as wallpaper, Bubble Wrap became one of the most popular and satisfying packaging materials worldwide!
●The largest sheet of Bubble Wrap recorded was 8,891 square feet (set in 2015).
● NASA uses Bubble Wrap to insulate equipment in space.
●Over 240,000 miles of Bubble Wrap are produced every year—enough to wrap around the Earth 10 times!
