If a popularity contest was held for different packaging products, it’s a pretty safe bet that Bubble Wrap would win hands-down. It seems that in addition to its many practical uses, folks really enjoy the stress relief that popping those great little bubbles bring!
In the tradition of great American inventions, Bubble Wrap was created in the late 1950’s in a small New Jersey garage by two engineers. Marc Chavannes and Al Fielding were actually trying to create a new type of wallpaper (proof that engineers should leave this sort of thing to interior decorators).
Although the world of Ward and June Cleaver wasn’t yet ready for something so crazy on their walls (it’s a safe bet that in another 15 years, the Brady Bunch would have loved the idea), Chavannes and Fielding turned this initial failure into what is now considered one of the best products available for cushioning and protecting an item for shipping. Originally named “Air Cap”, Bubble Wrap is a registered trademark of the Sealed Air Corporation, the company the two men founded in 1960, which today has annual revenues of more than $3 billion.
In addition to its uses in packaging, leave it to good old American creativity to come up with these unique uses for Bubble Wrap: costumes, solar covers for outdoor pools, the inside protective lining for bubble mailers envelopes, lining drawers, lining refrigerator crisper drawers to keep fruit from bruising, wrapping outdoor potted plant to protect against winter weather, and last but not least- providing stress relief and entertainment by being so darn fun to pop!
And for those of you who still can’t get enough of this product, you’ll want to remember to celebrate “Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day” which is held every year on the last Monday in January. Let the popping party begin!
