The Surprising Story of Bubble Wrap: It Was Meant to Be Wallpaper
The origin of bubble wrap was originally as wallpaper. Let's talk about it.
Jenny Holly Hansen
By Jenny Holly Hansen | WBN News | May 4, 2025
Sometimes the greatest inventions come from the most unexpected ideas. One of my favorite examples of this is bubble wrap. Like most people, I’ve always thought of bubble wrap as that irresistible packaging material—the perfect thing for protecting fragile items (and for gleefully popping). But the real origin of bubble wrap is much more surprising: it was originally invented as wallpaper.
The story begins in 1957 with two inventors, Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes. They were experimenting with new types of textured wallpaper—something modern and futuristic for homes that were embracing new trends. Their idea was to create a wall covering made from two layers of plastic with trapped air bubbles inside, giving it a unique, cushioned appearance.
Unfortunately, the concept didn’t take off. Homeowners at the time weren’t particularly excited about the idea of covering their walls with bubble-filled plastic. It was too unconventional and didn’t quite fit the aesthetic tastes of the late 1950s. Fielding and Chavannes could have easily shelved the idea and moved on, but instead, they looked at their creation from a different angle: Maybe it wasn't wall décor—maybe it was packaging.
Around this same time, the world was seeing a boom in air travel and consumer goods, and products needed better protection during shipping. Traditional packing materials like paper and straw just weren’t cutting it for delicate electronics or luxury items. That’s when Fielding and Chavannes realized that their bubbly plastic sheets could provide excellent cushioning.
They rebranded their invention as a packaging solution and founded Sealed Air Corporation in 1960. Their big break came when IBM needed a safe way to ship their new computers. Bubble wrap turned out to be the perfect answer, and from there, it became a worldwide standard in packaging.
Today, bubble wrap is an everyday part of our lives—so common that it’s easy to overlook its odd beginnings as a design idea that didn't quite work out. I find it inspiring, though. It’s a reminder that sometimes failure is just an opportunity in disguise, and with a little creativity, even wallpaper can change the world.
Next time you pop a sheet of bubble wrap, think of Alfred and Marc—and how their "failed" wallpaper became one of the most satisfying inventions ever made.
Let’s Keep Talking:
Jenny is a business insurance broker with Waypoint Insurance.
She is also a business development consultant with Impresario Partners, helping Canadian Business expand overseas.
She can be reached at 604-317-6755 or jholly-hansen@wbnn.news. Connect with Jenny on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-holly-hansen-365b691b/. Connect with Jenny at BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/jennyhollyhansen.bsky.social
Let’s Meet Up:
Jenny Holly Hansen is a cohost with Chris Sturges of the Langley Impact Networking Group. You are welcome to join us on Thursday’s from 4pm to 6pm at: Sidebar Bar and Grill: 100b - 20018 83A Avenue, Langley, BC V2Y 3R4
TAGS: #Jenny Holly Hansen #Bubble Wrap #Wall Paper #Alfred Fielding #Marc Chavannes
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