You might have heard that Bubble Wrap can be used as a stress buster, and most of your electronic and glass products are wrapped with these Bubble Wrap as a packaging tool. But what was the original purpose of Bubble Wrap? Here are some of the interesting facts about Bubble Wrap you need to know.
Bubble Wrap Facts and History
In 1957, two physicists, Al Fielding and Swiss inventor Marc Chavannes developed Bubble Wrap in Hawthorne, New Jersey. However, none of them attempted to create a substance that could be used as packaging. Instead, they were attempting to make textured wallpaper. They began by taping two shower curtains together in such a way that air bubbles would be trapped, giving their wallpaper a textured appearance.
This bubble wrap invention, known as the Bubble Wrap wallpaper concept, was a flop. They were undeterred and set about seeking a new application for their product. They came up with the idea of using it as greenhouse insulation as an alternative usage. Although Bubble Wrap does have some insulation, this concept was not well received.
Who Invented Bubble Wrap?
- A. Antoine Lavoisier
- B. Alfred Fielding & Marc Chavannes
- C. James Watson
- D. None of the Above
Frederick W. Bowers, a marketer at Sealed Air, the company that manufactures Bubble Wrap, came up with the best application for their product that is three years after it was first invented. IBM unveiled its first 1401 word length computer on October 5, 1959. That’s when the Bowers came up with the concept of using Bubble Wrap as a protective wrapping material for the device while it was being packed.
He then presented the concept to IBM and explained the security properties of Bubble Wrap. IBM started buying Bubble Wrap to cover their 1401 and other delicate products they marketed and exported after his presentation went over well. The corporation has risen from modest beginnings to annual revenues of about $4 billion and a net profit of around $255 million. For context, Bubble Wrap accounts for around 10% of Sealed Air’s sales, implying that about $400 million worth of Bubble Wrap is sold per year.
Despite its origins as a packaging material for electrical devices, the vast majority of Bubble Wrap produced today is used for food packaging. The pumpkin was unharmed during the fall because of Bubble Wrap. Bubble Wrap can be used as an inexpensive burglar alarm by sticking big bubbled Bubble Wrap on the floor in front of your house, among the many other applications. Another wacky usage, common with teenage girls all over the world, is bra stuffing.