Pop Culture: The Surprising History of Bubble Wrap [INFOGRAPHIC]

If you’ve ever packed or unpacked a box, chances are you’ve come across plastic sheeting better known as bubble wrap. Bubble wrap is an excellent packing material that protects fragile items during shipment and storage—and it’s also satisfying to pop! You might be surprised to learn that bubble wrap was originally invented not as a packing material, but as a way to create textured wallpaper. When that idea didn’t take off, it was used as greenhouse insulation. Eventually, bubble wrap was used to protect IBM computers during shipment in the late 1950s, and has been the packing and storage material of choice ever since. Take a look at this infographic from Independence Storage, a self-storage facility in Palo Alto , to learn more about the history of bubble wrap, and what makes popping it so entertaining. Please feel free to share these fun facts with your friends and family.