Bubble Wrap was Invented to be Wallpaper

"A patent provides a creative person with the opportunity to reap the rewards of his ideas," – Barbara Hampton

We all love bubble wrap. The squishy ball of air surrounded by plastic is one of the simplest joys one can have in life. So it comes as no surprise that their inventor must rake in some serious profits, especially when they hold multiple patents for the product. But, of course, all of this could have never happened as the company nearly decided to market the product as wallpaper before realising its true potential.

The First Pop

Howard Fielding had no notion that his following action would make him a trendsetter as he carefully held his father's innovation as a child. He had a plastic sheet in his hands with air-filled lumps all over it. Yet, he couldn't resist the lure of popping the bubbles as he fingered the funny-feeling film, just like the rest of the world has been doing since. As a result, Fielding, who was around five years old, became the first person to pop Bubble Wrap only for enjoyment. The technology transformed the transportation industry and paved the way for the e-commerce era, safeguarding billions of products carried annually worldwide.

Bubble Wrap was co-invented by Fielding's father Alfred and his business partner Marc Chavannes, a Swiss scientist. In 1957, they were attempting to make textured wallpaper that would appeal to the developing Beat culture. They passed two sections of plastic shower curtain through a heat-sealing machine, but the results were disappointing at first: a sheet of film with trapped air bubbles. Bubble Wrap was co-invented by Fielding's father Alfred and his business partner Marc Chavannes, a Swiss scientist. In 1957, they were attempting to make textured wallpaper that would appeal to the nascent Beat culture. They passed two sections of plastic shower curtain through a heat-sealing machine, but the results were disappointing at first: a sheet of film with trapped air bubbles.

From Wallpaper to Packaging

Fielding and Chavannes created Sealed Air Corp. in 1960 to continue developing their odd product, Bubble Wrap. However, they didn't find success until the following year when they decided to use it as packaging material. The 1401 unit, dubbed the "Model-T" of the computer industry, had just been released, and IBM required a mechanism to preserve it during shipping.

Small packaging businesses quickly adopted the innovative technology. Previously, wrapping an item in balled up newsprint was the best way to safeguard it while shipping. But, because the ink from old newspapers rubbed off on the product and those handling it, it was a mess. Plus, it didn't provide nearly enough protection. As the popularity of Bubble Wrap grew, Sealed Air grew as well. For broader usage, the product grew into various shapes, sizes, strengths, and thicknesses: large and little bubbles, wide and short sheets, and large and short rolls. Bubble wrap became a household phenomenon as more people discovered the delight of popping those air-filled pockets.

The Success

Despite the popularity, the business was losing money. That's when T.J. comes into play. In 1971, Dermot Dunphy was named CEO. When he departed the company in 2000, annual revenues had risen from $5 million in his first year to $3 billion. Dunphy, a trained entrepreneur, assisted Sealed Air in stabilising its operations and diversifying its product line. He even took the company into the swimming pool business. Bubble Wrap pool covers were immensely popular for numerous years. The coverings' enormous air pockets helped catch solar rays and retain heat, keeping the pool water warm, even though the bubbles couldn't be popped. The company eventually sold the line.

Howard Fielding's wife, Barbara Hampton, who also happens to be a patent information specialist, is quick to point out how patents enabled her father-in-law and his partner to achieve their goals. They received six patents in all for Bubble Wrap, the majority of which related with the technique of embossing and laminating plastic, as well as the requisite equipment. Marc Chavannes had already secured two patents for thermoplastic film, but he didn't have poppable bubbles in mind when he did so.

Sealed Air is now a Fortune 500 firm with $4.5 billion in annual revenue and 15,000 employees serving customers in 122 countries. In 2016, the company relocated its global headquarters from New Jersey to North Carolina. Cryovac, a thin plastic shrink-wrapped around food and other goods, is one of the products it manufactures and sells. Sealed Air even provides consumers with an airless bubble wrap that is less expensive to transport.

I kind of wish that the company continued with their bubble wrap wallpaper idea. Houses would be a lot quirkier, and indoor cats would go crazy. I find it fascinating how far you have to go to get your idea yours without others copying it for their profit. If it does not need upgrading, such as bubble wrap, then the credit should always go to the creator. However, if it's something that others can improve for the better of humanity, like medicine or tech, then copyrighting and patents move to the grey zone. What do you think?

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