Moving Supplies: Bubble & Stretch Wrap

Bubble wrap is a flexible, transparent, plastic substance made from polyethylene used for packing fragile items. The protruding, air-filled bubbles in the plastic sheet are regularly spaced and provide cushioning for fragile items.

Origins

Bubble wrap was the ingenious creation of two engineers, Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes, in 1957. Like many inventions, it was an accidental discovery. The engineers were trying to build textured plastic wallpaper with paper backing that could easily be cleaned. The term ‘bubble wrap’ is a trademark of the Sealed Air Corporation which was founded by the inventors in 1960 and can only be used for products made by that company. The generic term for this material is ‘air cellular cushioning material’.

Uses

Bubble wrap is used for the cushioning of fragile items and is available in different sizes. The one you choose depends on the size of the items to be packed and the level of cushioning protection needed. They vary from ¼” in diameter, to as large as 1” or more to provide added levels of shock absorption during moving. The degree of protection available from the size of the air bubbles in the plastic can offer some form of protection for the objects. When shipping sensitive electronic parts and components, a type of bubble wrap is used that employs an anti-static plastic that dissipates static charges to protect the sensitive electronic chips from static which can damage them. Bubble wrap is also considered a major stress reliever. Popping the plastic bubbles and listening to the popping sound it makes is a distracting pastime.

In the moving process, moving supplies plays a key role. Bubble wrap is essential to moving as it acts as a protective barrier and prevents any damages during moving. It is an exceptionally flexible protective material that is great as a cushioning material, void fill or even surface protection. It is the ultimate in fragile protection. Bubble wrap is great for wrapping glassware, picture frames, mirrors, electronics and collectibles. Before packing, just wrap items using the bubble wrap. For added protection, the items can be wrapped more than once. Another valuable tip is to line the boxes with bubble wrap before packing breakable articles.

Bubble wrap is available in these three standard thicknesses:

1. 3/16 inch Bubble Wrap: good for packing and protecting light weight articles.
2. 5/16 inch Bubble Wrap: good for medium weight articles.
3. 1/2 inch Bubble Wrap: good for cushioning light, medium and heavy weight products.

Listed below are a few tips for proper usage of bubble wrap:

• When using the bubble wrap as a cushioning material, there should be enough wrap so all sides and corners are protected.
• Ensure that there is at least 2” of bubble padding between the product and the wall of the box.
• To avoid the packaged article from moving when it is shaken, enough bubble wrap or any other void fill substance should be used.
• If the product is moving, more packaging material is needed.

Some of the key advantages of using bubble wrap are:

1. Bubble wraps provide great cushioning.
2. When used in packing they provide long lasting protection throughout the moving process.
3. It reduces the packing charges as less material is needed for addedg protection.
4. It reduces damages.
5. It is reusable.
6. Bubble wrap is recyclable and thus environment friendly.

There are different types of bubble wraps and also bubble bags and the same are listed below:

1. Adhesive bubble wrap has an adhesive backing which sticks to any surface.
2. Cohesive bubble wrap is similar to adhesive wraps but it sticks only to itself.
3. Anti-static wrap is made from a special combination of plastics and provides protection for electronic goods that can be damaged by static energy.

Purchasing

There are a lot of types of bubble wraps available in the market. They are available in economical bubble wrap rolls, self-dispensing bubble wrap rolls, large and small bundles of bubble wrap, and anti-static bubble wrap rolls and bags.

Stretch wrap protects everything against dust, dirt, scuffs and nicks. It is great for sofas, tables, dressers, etc. Stretch wrap is used to bind, bundle and fasten when moving or storing. It sticks to itself and has adhesive so it causes no damage when unpacking. Once the stretch wrap is stretched around an item it form fits around the article. It is very strong and can be used to bundle any household goods to ensure that they are moved without any damages.