Copyright (c) 2010 Filton Kingswood

Bubble wrap is often taken for granted but have you considered how and why it was invented. It is used for a variety of reasons in today's world ' from moving house, to packaging, to entertaining children. This article looks at the invention of bubble wrap, how it can be used and where it can be purchased in the UK

The Invention - where did it come from Bubble wrap was invented in 1957 by two American engineers called Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes. The underlying reason behind their creation is not documented but their invention has become an every day item throughout the world. Despite being a registered brand, the term 'bubble wrap' is now commonly used to refer to all similar products known as 'cushioning material' - in a similar way that 'Hoover' has become synonymous with vacuum cleaners.

Bubble wrap is a pliable transparent plastic material which consists of regularly spaced, protruding 'bubbles'. It was invented by two American engineers in 1957 - Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes. Despite being an official brand name of Sealed Air Corporation, the term 'bubble wrap' is now widely used to refer to all items within the 'cushioning material' category.

What Uses Does our cushioned packaging have Bubble wrap has a wide variety of uses. Most commonly it is used as a packaging material as the bubble provides shock absorption to reduce items being damaged.

The most traditional use of this uber packaging is for packing breakable items during a home removal. Often purchased along with cardboard boxes, it is used to wrap small, fragile items such as ornaments or photo frames to prevent damage during transit. Larger items such as mirrors or television sets can also be wrapped in bubble wrap to reduce cracking or scratching during transportation. As previously mentioned, the size of the bubbles within the bubble wrap is important as it affects the shock absorption. Before you start packing your personal items for your house move, consider which size of bubble wrap is most suitable - small objects are best wrapped in small bubbles whilst larger items are better protected by larger bubbles as these offer greater protection. For items requiring extra protection, multiple layers of bubble wrap can be used.

With the advent of internet and home shopping, there has been a significant rise in the number of items being transported over both short and long distances. Previously, many companies used scrunched up newspaper or polystyrene beads within their packaging to protect items. However they have since moved to bubble wrap as it is not only more cost effective and better for the environment, but it also creates less mess.

It is not just companies who use bubble wrap in their packing. With the evolution of auction sites and other online personal sales channels, consumers are now also using bubble wrap to send their items to other people. This is primarily for the same reason as companies - to provide better protection, and ultimately fewer returns.

There is another less practical use of bubble wrap - the pleasure of popping it. Although you may find this amusing, it has been proven that popping bubble wrap alleviates stress. Similar to the 'stress ball', the process of popping bubble wrap re-focuses the mind, whilst the sound is one we associate with amusement. Whilst bubble wrap may entertain an adult for a few minutes, it can be used to entertain young children for much longer. It isn't just the popping noise that amuses them, but also the look and feel of the material itself. Being relatively transparent, it enables them to see shapes and colour through it, whilst the bubbles provide a unique texture.

Where To Buy Bubble Wrap
Since it's creation in 1957, bubble wrap has become widely available to purchase. It is available in large rolls ' sometimes up to 100m for use in industrial packing or moving house, or smaller sheets which are ideal for ad-hoc packing tasks. The width of bubble wrap rolls also varies depending on what you need it for ' generally from 300mm up to 1500mm is most widely available. You can now also get anti-static bubble wrap which prevents you getting charges whilst using it, and also prevents static discharge to enclosed items.

With so many varieties of bubble wrap available to buy in the UK, you might be baffled with too much choice. Speedy Packaging offer free advice and a wide range of bubble wrap lengths and sizes to meet your needs.

When it comes to packaging, there's always a trade-off between protection of the items being dispatched and cost. Under package your products and they'll be damaged in transit; over package them and you'll be jeopardising your cash flow every time an order goes out. Either way, you'll be incurring cost unnecessarily. That's where, from cardboard boxes to carrier bags, an experienced packaging supplier will help you find the perfect balance - and help you boost your bottom line.

Let's consider a selection of packaging types and see what this means in practice.

Cardboard boxes

Because of the widely differing costs of box making materials and printing, the potential for over- or under-specification of corrugated or boxboard packing boxes is enormous. An experienced supplier will be aware of this and will take time to understand exactly what your packaging has to achieve. Around the corner or around the world? Into an industrial warehouse or onto the shelves of a luxury store? These are the sort of things that must be considered. Only when your needs have been exhaustively researched can the supplier specify the perfect solution for your needs - in terms of both protection and cost

Bubble wrap

As anyone who has ever idly popped the bubbles on bubble wrap will know, there's a great range of bubble-sizes and sheet thicknesses (as well as biodegradable and anti-static options too). An experienced bubble wrap specialist will know why certain grades of wrap work best with certain types of product. Make the right decision and you may be able to dispense with an expensive outer protection - but only your packaging supplier will be able to help you make that decision.

Shipping boxes

A shipping container is never 'just a box'. It may be a vari-depth box, an export box, a bottle box, a postal box or one of dozens of different-sized shipping boxes available from leading packaging suppliers. Boxes are more than just another FEFCO code: they're what determines the safe arrival of business or lifestyle products. Whether fortunes or lives are on the line, the balance betwee cost and protection has to be perfect.

Labels & Branding

Don't skimp on address labels and other details Attention to the little details is another area where the best packaging suppliers differentiate themselves from the also-rans. And so it is when it comes to advising on the best packaging for your needs. What's the point of perfect packaging if it is let down by poor quality address labels that become detached in transit or which don't communicate your brand properly? An experienced packaging supplier will be able to find a cost-effective way to make sure that those important little details are never overlooked.

So what should you look for when selecting the perfect supplier for your cardboard boxes, bubble wrap and other packaging? Modern facilities and systems, and a wide range of products and services are essential. So too are excellent working relationships with leading protective wrapping and packaging manufacturers. But there's something else too: their people and their promise to finding you the optimum combination of cost and protection. Without that, the rest is meaningless.

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Like many others Graham Baylis wants to help save the environment. One area that all can help in is with packaging. This goes for individuals and businesses alike. The trend for buying green packaging is one that MacFarlane Packaging is keen to support. See http://www.macfarlanepackaging.com/
Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/packaging-always-balance-protection-and-cost-for-the-safest-transit-1974557.html