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Pop! Pop! Pop! - The History of Bubble Wrap

Date: 18-09-2023
Industrial Packaging
Industrial Packaging
Pop! Pop! Pop! - The History of Bubble Wrap

Happy Mistake

Like many great inventions, Bubble Wrap was invented completely by accident. The two inventers were trying to manufacture plastic wallpaper – sadly the plastic wallpaper idea didn’t go well, but the happy accidental result was hugely popular all around the world - Bubble Wrap.

  

Next to cardboard boxes, Bubble Wrap is perhaps the most popular packaging material today. From when it was first invented it was originally produced for something completely unrelated to the shipping industry. Once you know the long history of Bubble Wrap, you’ll never look at it the same way again.

Second Chance of Success

After its failed introduction as wallpaper, it’s inventers set out to market Bubble Wrap as a product for greenhouse insulation. Unfortunately, while Bubble Wrap does have some insulating properties, it’s simply not as effective at insulating as other specialist materials. That’s why it was no surprise that this idea also failed.

Third Time Lucky

It wasn’t until almost three years since its invention that Bubble Wrap got its first big break. Frederick W. Bowers – a marketer for the company Sealed Air (Bubble Wrap’s producer) – came up with the idea of using Bubble Wrap as a packaging material. He got the idea when IBM announced the new computer back in 1959 and realised how Bubble Wrap could protect the relatively fragile machines during shipment.

Computer Age

Following a successful pitch to IBM soon the computer firm were using Bubble Wrap for their computers and relatively delicate accessories. And from there, Bubble Wrap really took off.

Bubble Wrap Today

Following its early start protecting computers Bubble Wrap continued to grow and a become a fundamental tool in the shipping and packaging industry. Today, Bubble Wrap is one of the most popular materials for packing and shipping goods, becoming as essential as cardboard boxes and Styrofoam. The hugely flexible product now comes in a variety of styles and designs, and it consistently earns Sealed Air (the US manufacturer and trademark holder) hundreds of millions of dollars every year. Not bad for a product made largely of air and invented by mistake...

 

We have a wide range of Bubble Wrap products at DEJ's - See our Range here

And there many more variations to Bubble Wrap we also offer behind the scenes so have a chat to your team today about your needs.