Bubble wrap is made of plastic and paper, containing bubbles or pockets filled with air to create a soft sheet for the products. It diminishes the chances of mishaps and damage during transit or shipping. Bubble wraps are used in packaging boxes, and many of the products are packed solely in the wraps, depending on its product nature. Let us understand its origins, functionalities, diverse applications, and the pivotal role it plays in safeguarding delicate items during their journey through shipping and storage. Let us begin.

What Is Bubble Wrap?

Bubble wrap is a plastic sheet covered in an array of air-filled bubbles or pockets, designed to create a soft cocoon around items. This innovative packaging material, predominantly made of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), acts as a barrier against the trials of transit, absorbing shocks, and cushioning items from the brutal impacts of the shipping world.

History Of Bubble Wrap

In the late 1950s, engineers Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes embarked on an unconventional quest to revolutionise wallpaper. Their textured wallpaper, initially conceived as a green alternative for insulation, harboured a hidden potential. Fortunately, the stars aligned, revealing its true calling as a protective packaging marvel Bubble Wrap.

Importance Of Bubble Wraps

Bubble wraps are considered a mandatory element in shipping and packing of delicate and fragile items. Apart from that, they have other enormous benefits. 

Lightweight and Versatile: Its Featherlight nature makes it an ideal void-fill. It is light as register paper, but benefits perfect protection. It is made of lightweight materials, and the pockets are filled with lightweight air or gases. It adds protection without weighing down packages.

Superior Cushioning: The air-filled pockets serve as shock absorbers. No matter how harsh or strong shocks come, the air filled wrapper absorbs them and protects products perfectly. It ensures items reach their destination unscathed.

Durability: It is strong and durable. It is made of materials that are tear resistant and sturdy. The tears, harsh or corner angles do not affect it. While tear variants exist for easy handling, its resilience against damage is remarkable.

Flexibility: Bubble wrap is made of a material that is flexible and easy to mould and turn in any shape. Any type of product, whether it is circular or rectangular, paper wraps are flexible to cover them perfectly. It is moldable and adaptable. It conforms to items of various shapes and sizes, a true chameleon in the packaging realm.

Eco-friendly: Apart from plastic wraps, recyclable materials are now being used for making bubble wrap. These wraps standss as an eco-conscious choice, advocating for a greener packaging solution.

Cons Of Bubble Wraps

No hero is without flaws. Bubble wrap, despite its enormous benefits, bears some drawbacks.

• Environmental Concerns

The plastic bubble wraps are dangerous to the environment and climate. Being non-biodegradable, improper disposal of bubble wrap pose environmental threats.

• Cost Factors

You know wraps of bubbles come in different qualities and types. The premium wraps for luxury and expensive items are expensive, increasing products overall price. Its pricing, especially for certain bubble sizes, result it being expensive compared to other alternatives.

• Spatial Conundrum

Bubbles are big and in packaging and shipping every inch matters. The wrapper filled with air pockets accommodates a lot of space. Its light but bulky nature demands substantial storage space, a challenge for the storage-limited.

• Potential Disruption 

If the temperature or mishandling happened, the bubbles might burst. Mishandling could lead to bursting air pockets, compromising its protective function.

• Limited Reusability

When wraps are used for one time,their recyclability and functionality is compromised. Once used or damaged, recycling or reusing it becomes impractical, advocating for eco-responsible alternatives.

Diverse Applications of Bubble Wrap

Uses of bubble wrap are many, but we have categorised the products in four major categories. Let us continue.

1. Storage Protection: Bubble Wrap serves as a stalwart defender during extended storage periods, offering a cushioning shield that safeguards items from the perils of storage-related damages. Its ability to create a protective barrier ensures the preservation of delicate items, preventing scratches, abrasions, or impacts that might compromise their integrity over time.
2. Guardian of Art and Valuables: It safeguards art pieces, antiques, and other valuable items. By cocooning these delicate possessions in a layer of air-filled protection, it prevents the occurrence of dings, scratches, or surface damage during handling, storage, or transit.
3. Shield for Electronic Devices: It shields these intricate devices from the rigors of the tumultuous shipping journey, ensuring that circuits, screens, and delicate components remain intact and undamaged upon arrival.
4. Protective Layer for Glassware: From sophisticated TVs and computer monitors to delicate glassware, bubble wrap emerges as a reliable shield against potential damages during transit. Its air-filled pockets provide a layer of insulation, minimizing the risk of breakage or cracks caused by impact, ensuring these fragile items reach their destination unscathed.

How to Pack Wrappers?

Using bubble wraps perfectly for packaging and packing is not a tough task, but not that much easy. There needs to be some considerations and points to keep in kind for wrapping. 

• Assess the quantity required based on the items to be packed. A surplus of wrap is preferable to shortages.
• It finds its niche in protecting plates, glasses, electronics, and even fragile home decor.
• Various bubble wrap sizes cater to different needs. Small bubbles for delicate jewelry, larger ones for hefty items.

How Use Bubble Wraps For Shipping?

Using bubble wraps for shipping is a technical job. Here are the main points:

• Each plate, cup, or delicate item warrants individual wrapping with bubble wrap.
• Stacking items together ensures snugness and reduces empty spaces inside the packaging.
• Utilizing stretch film and choosing the appropriate box size is critical for safe transit.
• Marking packages as "FRAGILE" alerts handlers to exercise care during transit.

Final Words

Bubble wrap is protector, stress-reliever, and versatile packaging material remains unparalleled. Its benefits are enormous. Now you know its benefits, how to pack and how to use it for shipping. If you want to pack your delicate items, or want to get Packaging Boxes that contain bubble wraps, We Print Your Box creates designer boxes containing bubble wraps inside at affordable rates and huge discounts.