bubble wrap Appreciation Day officially falls on the last Monday of January annually. After being held for the first time in 2001, this year it will
celebrate the 50th birthday of the world’s most beloved packaging material.
The 25th of January will be celebrated with a Bubblympiad hosted by ‘Spirit 95’ Radio in Indiana where bubble wrap, which is a trademarked brand of Sealed Air Corporation, was first invented in 1957. The Olympic-style event includes a range of bubble wrap inspired activities such as a popping relay, a ‘pop’ song contest, and fashion and sculpture displays.
The invention of bubble wrap was one of life’s happy accidents when engineers, Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes failed in their attempt to develop a plastic wallpaper. It was trademarked by Sealed Air Corporation in the U.S in 1960 as a cushioning packaging material. What was a loss for the world of wallpapering became a revolution in the way people packaged fragile items worldwide. Previously only paper was used for the protection of items in transit, which lead to many breakages. The bubble wrap material, which is created by trapping air in pockets of plastic sheeting, is used to provide cushioned protection for valuable and delicate items while they are transported. It has become invaluable in many industries including postal services and furniture removals.
“We use rolls of bubble wrap in our business daily,” says Zachary Rook, director of Brisbane Removalist company, Your Local Movers. “In our line of work we move the precious and often delicate belongings of our clients. As professional removalists we rely on only the best packaging materials, such as bubble wrap, to ensure the safety of the items we move.”
As well as its usefulness in many industries, bubble wrap has become an unlikely pop culture phenomenon. The bubbles make a very satisfying ‘pop’ when they are squeezed which has lead to people of all ages using bubble wrap for entertainment or the relief of stress. The material has even gone virtual; with bubble wrap simulation games becoming popular online. Recently Apple has released a bubble wrap iPhone application!
Happy 50th year anniversary to the auspicious bubblicious wrap, there is sure to be the squeezing, stomping and twisting of bubble wrap for years to come.
