Accidental Inventions - Bubble Wrap
In the late 1950s, two engineers, Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes, were trying to create a ‘3D effect’ wallpaper.
They had tried a number of different approaches without much success.
Then, one day, they tried something unusual. They glued together two shower curtains.
As the glue dried, they noticed that the pockets of trapped air between the two layers of plastic gave them the effect they had been looking for.
They were convinced they were finally onto something…
After further refinement of the concept, they began selling their textured wallpaper.
Unfortunately, nobody was interested, so they looked for other uses for their invention.
At first, they marketed their material as insulation. However, its insulating properties were modest at best, and its situation began to look bleak.
Not long after, computer giant IBM announced the launch of its new 1401 model.
A quick-thinking marketing man at Sealed Air (the company the two engineers had formed to make their unusual wallpaper) spotted an opportunity.
He realised that the spaced pockets of air would be perfect for cushioning and protecting fragile items in transit.
‘Bubble Wrap’ was pitched to IBM for use as packaging when shipping its new computer to buyers.
By failing to create a new wallpaper style, Fielding and Chavannes had developed a packaging wonder material that is still in use all over the world.
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