Bubble Wrap Was Actually Intended to Be 3d Wallpaper
The ubiquitous packaging material, Bubble Wrap, which is well known for protecting mail-order products (and for being fun to pop), was originally invented to serve as a trendy new type of textured wallpaper.
Bubble wrap, the satisfyingly poppy material familiar to anyone who has ever moved or received a package in the mail, is now globally utilized for its excellent shock absorption attributes. Ingeniously simple in design, it consists of plastic sheets with regular arrays of air-filled bubbles. This concept was one of those “why didn’t I think of that” ideas marketers dream about. However, the initial vision for bubble wrap differed from its current use.
Origins and Initial Vision
In 1957, Swiss inventor Alfred Fielding and his partner Marc Chavannes were experimenting with creating a new textured wallpaper. They sealed two shower curtains together in a way that captured multiple pockets of air within them. The resulting product certainly grabbed attention due to its unique texture but did not become the interior decorating revolution they had hoped for.
Reimagining the Product
As inventors often do when their first idea doesn’t take off, Fielding and Chavannes started thinking outside the box about other potential applications for their creation. Through trial and error, they discovered that this ingenious design made an exceptional packing material. Light yet durable enough to absorb shocks and protect fragile items during shipping, bubble wrap found its true calling.
Commercial Success
Sealed Air Corporation was founded by Fielding and Chavannes in 1960 to manufacture and market their product. It quickly became revolutionary in safeguarding packages against impacts and rough handling and proved advantageous over messy and heavy alternatives such as shredded paper or sawdust.
Impact on Packaging Industry
Bubble Wrap’s success story demonstrates how innovative breakthroughs can sometimes be discovered through unusual initial intentions followed by lateral thinking. Its impact on the packaging industry has been profound, offering a lightweight yet effective solution for protecting goods during transit.
Conclusion
The ubiquity of bubble wrap today is a testament to the resilient inventiveness of its creators, Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes. Their ability to reimagine potential applications transformed what began as an attempt at 3D wallpaper into an indispensable protective packaging material used worldwide.