Bubble Wrap Packaging Materials

Guide to Selecting and Storing Bubble Wrap Packaging Materials

The right bubble packing cuts losses due to shipping damages
By Rodney Ruff

To the recipient, bubble packaging is like the cardboard box a child's Christmas toy comes in: something to play with when bored with the item that it once wrapped. To the shipper, however, bubble packing is often a cost-cutting, more resilient and more flexible alternative to foam or tissue packaging.

Bubble Wrap packaging consists of top and bottom layers of thin, low-density polyethylene with pockets of air sandwiched between them. These air pockets protect items wrapped in the packaging from shock, vibration and abrasion. It is strong, lightweight and can be wrapped around the item it protects and used to fill in the space between the item and its container. Often, less bubble packing is required than comparable materials, thus offering money savings.

Bubble packaging comes in three basic types:

1. Rolls of bubble packing. Available in thicknesses from 1/16-inch to ½-inch, rolls may be either pre-perforated for easy separation into smaller pieces or without perforations to be cut as needed.
   
2. Bubble Wrap envelopes and mailers; conventional mailers lined with Bubble Wrap.
3. Bubble bags, into which shipped items may be inserted and which often feature closures similar to those found on reclosable sandwich bags.

Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use the right Bubble Wrap for the job Bubble packing comes in a range of thicknesses and strengths. Specialty wraps, such as anti-static wrap designed to protect electronic equipment and wraps designed to stick to themselves only or to the items they protect without leaving a residue, also are available.

I recommend:  Paper Mart, one of several Bubble Wrap suppliers, offers Bubble Wrap in thicknesses from 1/16-inch to ½-inch. Global offers extra-strength as well as anti-static wraps. PackagingPrice.com offers a selection of Bubble Wrap envelopes and mailers, both self-sealing and heat-sealable, as well as anti-static and self-adhesive wraps. For the most comprehensive section of bubble packing, though, visit ULine, which offers industrial strength and anti-static wraps, as well as self-adhesive wraps (Bubble Mask), bubble tubing and custom-sized rolls.

Keep your Bubble Wrap packaging organized and manageable On the recipient's end, loose Bubble Wrap gets underfoot, wadded up and popped, then thrown away. On the shipper's end, unruly bubble packing can lead to slowed production and costly shipping delays.

I recommend:  Check out ULine's portable roll stand, with its heavy-duty steel frame, locking casters, built-in cutting surface and a tensioner to prevent unraveling. Best of all, it assembles with only four screws. ULine also offers tabletop cutters in four widths (24, 36, 48 and 60 inches) with replaceable steel blades. If you don't need to work with large rolls of Bubble Wrap, Global and ULine each offer their most popular wraps in self-dispensing cartons.

When in doubt, consult an expert With all of the bubble packing choices available, choosing the right wrap for the right package can still be a sticking point.

I recommend:  The UPS Store is the place to go for packing advice. Their Web site offers a quick list of dos and don'ts, as well as a display of what makes for a well-packed box.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Look at the items you ship the most and buy the wrap best suited to that item. Consider specialty wraps, but only if your budget allows for it, and if the shipping needs of your products dictate the use of it.
• Keep your packaging area as organized as possible. If you ship several kinds of items, create a separate staging area for each item and its corresponding wrapping.