How a failed wallpaper experiment in 1957 accidentally led to the invention of bubble wrap

Back in 1957, inventors Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes tried developing a novel type of plastic wallpaper containing air bubbles between shower curtains. While their wallpaper never achieved success on the commercial market, the unique substance was eventually transformed into Bubble Wrap, probably one of the best-known types of protective packaging. Currently, Bubble Wrap is extensively applied for packing delicate items, insulating things and protecting objects during storage. This case can be considered a classic example of an accidental innovation in packaging history. Bubble Wrap, textured wallpapers, accidental innovations, innovations in packaging, protective packaging materials and air bubbles in plastic are still some interesting subjects in industrial design and consumerism. The story also highlights how failed inventions can unexpectedly evolve into globally successful products with long-lasting commercial and practical value.Fielding and Chavannes were at work in New Jersey at the end of the 1950s when they started playing with plastic materials for decoration. The initial idea of the inventors was totally unexpected and had nothing to do with packaging.In their experiments, Fielding and Chavannes wanted to develop a new fashionable three-dimensional wallpaper that would be in demand among homeowners. In order to make it possible, they tried sealing two plastic shower curtains in such a manner as to form small bubbles between them.Unfortunately, there was no interest in the market; nobody was keen on having a house filled with bubbles on the walls. Nonetheless, the inventors saw that the material could be used for something else.According to Stevens Institute of Technology, the inventors kept trying and soon realised the cushioning properties of their invention.However, the proper use for Bubble Wrap was not discovered right away. The inventors at one point even tried to market the product as insulation for greenhouses because of the air pockets that served as insulators. Although the idea was quite promising, the true revolution occurred when the computer industry was developing in the 1960s.During those times, as firms were shipping fragile electronic goods, there was an urgent need to have a light packaging system that could protect the items from shocks during the process. Bubble Wrap met all the demands as it protected without being heavy.Bubble Wrap gained a reputation as a safe packaging material. Indeed, as the company started by its inventors, Sealed Air, states, it quickly became the new standard in global packaging since products no longer suffered any damage while shipping and storing.The popularity of the invention was also associated with the shift in consumer behaviour. As retailers developed, there was a clear need to introduce new protective packaging.One reason why Bubble Wrap gained popularity is its simple mechanism. This consists of utilising air, which is abundant, and forming it in such a way that it becomes light yet strong enough to absorb shock. Before Bubble Wrap, there was packaging made up of other heavy materials like wood shavings or bulky paper padding.In the course of their scientific investigation of packaging materials, scientists in the study 'Transforming Bubble Wrap and Packaging Plastic Waste into Valuable Fuel Resources' found out that the bubbles allow for equal pressure distribution on the fragile objects placed inside them. In this way, Bubble Wrap proved particularly useful for fragile items like glassware and electronic devices.Bubble Wrap even gained a cult status with many people due to its enjoyable property of popping bubbles. Scientists studying sensorybehaviour have even claimed that repeated popping of bubbles may help ease stress through tactile stimulation.Many technological innovations serve as good examples to demonstrate that innovation is never straightforward. Most of those ideas, which led to major inventions, were initially created to solve entirely different tasks, and they usually failed in those attempts.Though Fielding and Chavannes failed in their mission to change the interior design industry with their product, the inventors' desire to persist in experimenting helped them make a discovery.Bubble Wrap became an excellent illustration of the fact, proved by numerous historians of technology, that even failure could lead to something bigger than the initial purpose of an experiment.Nowadays, Bubble Wrap is one of the best-known packaging items in the world, being still utilised almost 60 years after its accidental creation to protect all kinds of goods from damage during transportation.Thus, a seemingly insignificant mistake led to great changes in the entire world of packaging, shipping, and storage.