Bubble wrap: from wallpaper to packaging revolution
Two shower curtains sealed together formed the first bubble wrap prototype. This was going to be the next, trendy wallpaper.
No one thought Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes's 1957 wallpaper concept would take off, so they rebranded it as greenhouse insulation. It served its purpose well, but it wasn't the groundbreaking success they thought they had.
Three years later, Fielding and Chavannes founded Sealed Air Corporation. Frederick Bowers, a marketing strategist working for them, saw potential in using their product to protect fragile items in transport. IBM needed a new way to safely ship their latest computer, so Bowers pitched the idea of using air bubbles as a packaging material. Fielding and Chavannes finally found their success.
Since its accidental birth, bubble wrap has undergone some design tweaks. The size and density of the bubbles have been optimized for different needs and material adjustments improved strength and sustainability.
Today, we see air pillows used more often than bubble wrap. These reduce material usage and allow for different inflation levels for custom designed product protection. Despite the change, the core concept of air-filled cushioning remains the same. Perhaps the biggest drawback, there are fewer bubbles to pop.
In the same vein as plastic bag seals deriving from a new fly for pants and Post-it Note adhesive originally used for bookmarks, what something is intended for may be a revolutionary fit elsewhere.
