Bubble wrap has been the favourite packaging material all over the world ever since it was introduced in 1957. This accidental invention by two brilliant engineers – Alfred Fielding & Marc Chavannes went on to become the most sought-after packaging solutions in almost every industry on this planet. It is manufactured from a pliant & transparent plastic material which consists of regularly spaced air-filled bubbles, or hemispheres. These bubbles or hemispheres provide a cushioning layer around the packaged products and protect them from damage. Bubble wrap is generally composed of a two-layered polyethylene film, with air entrapped in between to form bubbles and this is primarily used to protect the cargo during shipping and transportation.
A packaging product which is as famous and in demand as the noble bubble wrap has to be versatile, else it would not be the world’s favourite. To meet the various needs and requirements of the packaging industry, bubble wrap comes in different shapes and sizes.
Some of The Major Categories of Bubble Wrap That Used Commonly Today Are As Follows:
- Standard bubble wrap
This popular packaging material provides excellent protection for objects & items, especially those that are delicate and have sensitive construction. The standard bubble wrap packing is a cost-effective and economical way to protect items and cargo during transportation. Bubble wrap material is available in different sizes to accommodate a whole range of oddly shaped items and objects. It is most commonly bought in the form of rolls, but there are a few variations as well like small bubble wrap bags. These are manufactured using premium and high-quality plastic, making them reusable with a longer service life.
- Foam-Layered Bubble Wrap
Foam-layered bubble wrap is a much better choice than the standard bubble wrap when it comes to protecting and securing the cargo during transporting and shipping. This is due to the extra layer of foam which provides an additional layer of cushioning and protection. The foam also helps absorb some of the impacts and shocks, making it an ideal choice for cargo which will be moved numerous times during the shipping process. Foam layered bubble wrap packaging materials are used extensively to protect sensitive and fragile items with a delicate finish like art pieces with high gloss paint.
- Self-adhesive bubble wrap
The self-adhesive bubble wrap is an economical and cheap alternative to using standard bubble wrap and double-sided tape. This was a revolutionary addition made to the already versatile bubble wrap packing. The adhesive allows the film to remain intact which makes this type of intelligent bubble wrap packaging perfect for products with sensitive surfaces such as glassware, flat screen TVs and furniture. Not only did self-adhesive bubble wrap make things easier for a lot of industries but it made things much better than ever before. For e.g. the double-side tape was hard to rid of, but the adhesive of this type of bubble wrap can be removed easily and it does not leave any imprint as well.
- Anti-Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Bubble Wrap
One of the major drawbacks of standard bubble wrap was that it could produce electrostatic energy when rubbed against each other fiercely. This is one of the main reasons why the electronic industry for a large part of the 19th century did not use the standard bubble wrap to secure electronic products. This is because the electrostatic charge can damage electronic products like smartphones, batteries, computing chips, and others. Anti-electrostatic discharge bubble wrap helped solve this crisis. This type of special bubble wrap simply exploded the packaging of electronic products as the manufacturers were sure that their product would reach their customers safely and in perfect condition.
- Environmentally Friendly Bubble Wrap
This type of bubble wrap will provide the same level of excellent and efficient protection like any other bubble wrap packaging. The only difference is that these bubble wrap packing solutions are manufactured using recycled plastic and a lot of them are also being manufactured using environment friendly and biodegradable plant resources. These variants of bubble wrap packaging are helping to save the environment by reducing the carbon footprint and trying to control it as much as possible. Environment friendly bubble wrap in standard, foam-layered as well as anti-ESD variants are easily available in the market today and a lot of companies prefer them.
