The creation of “Bubble Wrap”—a ubiquitous staple of the global packaging industry—began in 1957 as an unconventional experiment by two engineers: Alfred Fielding, an American mechanical engineer, and Marc Chavannes, a Swiss chemical engineer.
Origin and Failed Aspirations
Working out of Hawthorne, New Jersey, the pair initially sought to create a trendy, three-dimensional textured wallpaper. They achieved their prototype by running two plastic shower curtains through a heat-sealing machine, which inadvertently trapped air bubbles between the layers.
Despite their efforts to market the product as avant-garde home decor, it failed to gain traction with interior designers. The inventors then attempted to pivot, unsuccessfully pitching the material as greenhouse insulation due to its air-trapping, insulating properties.
A Pivot to Protective Packaging
The invention found its true purpose in 1960 when the duo founded the Sealed Air Corporation. While they held various patents for the embossing and laminating process, it was not until 1961 that they identified the material’s potential as a protective shipping medium. Their breakthrough came when IBM became their first major client, using the material to protect the sensitive IBM 1401 computer during transit.
Legacy and Recognition
- Industrial Impact: Bubble Wrap revolutionized the shipping industry by providing a lightweight, waterproof, and shock-absorbent alternative to messy traditional materials like sawdust, horsehair, and balled-up newspaper.
- Honors: In 1993, both Fielding and Chavannes were inducted into the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame in recognition of their contribution to technology and industry.
- Cultural Status: Beyond its industrial utility, the material became a global pop-culture phenomenon, famously recognized for the tactile satisfaction of “popping” the bubbles.
The Accidental Invention of Bubble Wrap
This short video provides a quick visual overview of how two shower curtains and a failed wallpaper concept led to the creation of the world’s most famous protective packaging.