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Bubble Wrap: Origins & Purpose

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by

Chester Hensley
in

The Invention of Bubble Wrap

Picture this: It's 1957, and two creative minds, Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes, are on a mission. Not to revolutionize packaging, mind you, but to create… textured wallpaper. Yep, you heard that right! Armed with two shower curtains and a hefty dose of "why not?" energy, they sealed those babies together, creating a bubbly masterpiece that left folks scratching their heads.

Now, why didn't this wallpaper sensation take off like hotcakes? Well, imagine trying to zen out in your dining room with what looks like a plastic bubble monster creeping up your walls. Not exactly the vibe you're going for when sipping tea under your fancy chandelier, right?

Undeterred by their wallpaper flop, Fielding and Chavannes weren't ready to burst their own bubble just yet. They explored over 400 potential uses for their plasticky wonder, including greenhouse insulation. Spoiler alert: plants were about as impressed as the homeowners.

But here's where the story gets juicy. Enter IBM, the tech giant of the day, looking for a way to protect their shiny new 1401 computer during shipping. And just like that, Bubble Wrap went from wallflower to the belle of the packaging ball. Talk about a pop-ular turnaround!

Two scientists sealing shower curtains together to create the first Bubble Wrap

Transformation to a Packaging Solution

So there's Fielding and Chavannes, scratching their heads with 400 ideas and nothing to show for it. Enter our hero, Frederick W. Bowers, a marketer with a knack for thinking outside the box—or inside it, in this case.

Picture Bowers, eyes narrowed, scanning the room like a detective in a noir film. Suddenly, his gaze lands on IBM. Bam! Lightbulb moment! IBM's fancy new 1401 computer needed some TLC during shipping, and Bowers had just the thing.

Can't you just see him slapping Fielding on the back, grinning like he'd won the lottery? "Buddy," he probably said, "I've got a feeling about this one." And boy, was he right!

From that moment on, Bubble Wrap wasn't just a failed wallpaper or a confused greenhouse companion. Nope, it was the superhero of the shipping world, ready to save fragile items from certain doom. Talk about a glow-up!

So next time you're popping away at that addictive packaging, remember: you're not just having fun, you're holding a piece of history. A piece of history that started with a couple of shower curtains and a dream. How's that for a wrap?

Vintage IBM 1401 computer being carefully wrapped in Bubble Wrap for shipping

Bubble Wrap's journey from quirky wallpaper to a packaging staple is a testament to the power of persistence and creativity. What started as an unconventional idea transformed into an indispensable tool, thanks to the unwavering spirit of its inventors and a little help from fate. Next time you hear that satisfying pop, remember you're holding a piece of history that embodies innovation and resilience.

Fun Facts about Bubble Wrap:

  • Bubble Wrap has its own appreciation day, celebrated on the last Monday in January1
  • If all the Bubble Wrap produced in a year was stretched out, it could reach from Earth to the Moon1
  • Bubble Wrap makes up nearly 10% of Sealed Air's yearly revenue, with over $400 million sold annually1
  • The original Bubble Wrap had much larger bubbles, making a louder pop when burst2
"I remember being the first beta tester for Bubble Wrap," – Howard Fielding, son of co-inventor Alfred Fielding2
  1. Sealed Air Corporation. Bubble Wrap History. 2021.
  2. Fielding H. Personal interview. 2020.