Bubble Wrap

Buy cheap bubble wrap on a roll - here's how to use this filling material.

In transport and shipping, products can be affected by shocks and impacts every minute. Sensitive surfaces and components then quickly capitulate. The remedy is the right packaging - but it should be as individual as possible to be able to protect all kinds of objects properly.

Cushioning film fulfils this criterion. Since it is wafer-thin and consists only of plastic and air, it can be wrapped around any shape, no matter how unusual, in no time at all. Pressure is distributed evenly over the small air bubbles, which can withstand enormous forces despite their small size. At the same time, air foil is reusable and can be completely recycled. That's why bubble wrap belongs in every professional packaging. In our shop you can order several or one roll of bubble wrap online at low prices.

What types of bubble wrap are there? When should which type be used? And on which side do the bubbles actually belong when packing? The following guide answers all these questions.

How polyethylene bubble wrap was once used as a wallpaper substitute and now protects your goods from shocks

Bubble films are made of a tear-resistant material that is particularly thin and light. Because it conforms to all shapes, it protects exceptionally well. Air makes up 99% of the weight, with the small bubbles acting like airbags in the event of a shock.

The other main component is pure polyethylene. Using vacuum and negative moulding, the bubbles are pulled into one layer of film, while the second layer of film is used to seal it. Normal bubble wrap is fully recyclable and is disposed of in the yellow bin, so it is very environmentally friendly to use.

Originally, bubble wrap was intended as a washable wallpaper substitute. While it was not convincing on the wall, the suitability of bubble wrap as a packaging material was quickly recognised. Bubble wrap is resilient, reusable, suitable for recycling and cheap to buy. Since the material hardly absorbs any water, it is also suitable for long transport routes and for storage in the open air.

Bubble films are available in many different types. Antistatic bubble film is used, for example, to pack electrical equipment. Bubble film including lamination or an additional layer makes the material even more stable. Air film that has large nubs is also widespread.

cushioning film provides optimum protection against impacts and scratches at temperatures up to +85 °C

Air foils are polyethylene and air-based films designed to protect objects from shocks. Thousands of small bubbles burst individually when pressure is applied briefly - but as a whole they act as an even, soft cushion.

For optimal protection, the packaging film is simply wrapped around the individual objects; alternatively, it can be used to fill cavities in packaging. The pressure from impacts is then distributed over the multitude of nubs, which act as small airbags for fragile objects. In the event of a shock, these slow down the impact, leaving the object itself unharmed. The rare bursting of the individual nubs is subsequently compensated for by the mass of other bubbles - bubble wrap is therefore also ideally suited for longer transport routes and can even be used several times.

Since bubble wrap is also extremely tear-resistant, it can also be used to protect surfaces during transport. It keeps furniture and valuables scratch-free. LUPO film has also established itself because it is particularly light and thus generates hardly any additional weight during shipping. Other positive properties are that it is dust-free and waterproof. Longer storage - also in outdoor areas - is much easier with the cushioning film than with comparable packaging materials. This is also possible at extreme temperatures. The cushioning film is resistant to temperatures ranging from -50 °C to +85 °C.

How wash-off wallpaper became a popular packaging and filling material

Originally, the two US-Americans Marc Chavannes and Alfred Fielding invented bubble wrap in 1957 for a completely different reason. The engineers were looking for a wallpaper to wash off. It was also supposed to be much easier to apply than its competitors, which have not really been able to establish themselves to this day. But the wallpaper, including air bubbles, was not convincing either, whereas the engineers immediately recognised its properties as a light and robust packaging material.

So Chavannes and Fielding registered "bubble wrap" - which is still the name given to this packaging film in English-speaking countries - with the patent office in 1959 and founded the company Sealed Air out of a garage, which still successfully produces packaging and filling material at several locations today. The company also produces environmentally friendly packaging solutions in Germany at its Alsfeld site in Hesse. You can order the environmentally friendly packaging film bubble wrap roll from our shop in Berlin.

Bubble films and their recycling - how environmentally friendly is the packaging material really and where can you order it online at a good price?

Bubble wrap packaging offers the following advantage: it is an environmentally friendly alternative to other packaging materials. Since it consists mostly of air and a comparatively small amount of pure and odourless polyethylene, it can be recycled without any problems. But how does the recycling of bubble wrap work? Often, disposed bubble wrap is used to produce new packaging materials or is used in energy generation when material recycling is not possible. Where can I buy bubble wrap and, best of all, order it directly online? You can order bubble wrap from our online shop at Verpacking.com. The price of bubble wrap also depends on the size of the bubbles. In addition, a distinction is made between 2-layer and 3-layer bubble wrap.

The manufacturers of bubble wrap pay licence fees to the dual system of waste disposal. Packaging film that is no longer needed therefore belongs in the yellow bin. However, this must be the pure packaging material. On the other hand, shipping bags with inner cushioning film must be disposed of in the residual waste, as they are neither waste paper nor pure packaging material and the two materials can never be separated one hundred percent.

How the dimpled layer of air foil is formed

Pure polyethylene does not make an excellent packaging material. The decisive factor is the air bubbles. However, several steps have to be gone through before the finished cushioning film can be produced.

First, at least two films, one of which serves as the top layer and the other as the bubble layer, are heated to just before the melting point at 200 °C. The two layers now have a zigzag layer of air bubbles. The two layers now have a viscous form and can be processed in a vacuum. To do this, one of the two layers is rolled over a nap cylinder with a negative mould - the later air bubbles.

In a vacuum, the dimpled film is sucked in at the recesses of the cylinder, while in parallel a second smooth cylinder creates the necessary counterpressure to seal them with the cover film at the same time. This is how the finished bubbles are finally left behind. Thanks to a third layer, the LUPO film can be made even more stable. The cooling process turns the tough mass into a tear-resistant and robust material. After cutting, rolling and quality control, the bubble wrap roll is ready for use. The bubble wrap packaging film on roll is then ready for immediate use.

Often, bubble film is equipped with an additional barrier layer in the middle of the individual film layers. Nylon is used here, which is impermeable to air and thus keeps the air in the bubbles. Bubble wrap without a barrier layer loses the air it contains after a certain time, so that the damping effect gradually diminishes.

Two different bubble sizes are common. The "normal" film with air cushion has bubbles with a diameter of about 30 mm. At the same time, they are up to 10 mm high. But a smaller version is also common. The air film used especially for small shipping items has bubbles with a diameter of 10 mm and a height of about 4 mm. However, there are also exceptions that have significantly larger nubs.

Find the right packaging film at a low cost for your needs

The thin film with air cushioning makes it possible to pack objects of any type and shape securely for transport, even at low material costs. Nevertheless, the requirements for the packaging material vary in order to ultimately ensure the best possible security. Several variants of the popular bubble wrap have therefore become established. Different variants can easily be bought online.

Antistatic air foil

Most new electrical appliances are particularly sensitive and react to even the smallest vibrations. Normal plastic film, however, is known to cause electrostatic discharges. This is fatal for many appliances. Thanks to an antistatic agent, however, LUPO film can also become conductive, effectively preventing damage to graphics cards, game consoles and the like.

The antistatic agents are added to the polyethylene during the manufacturing process. They are then deposited on the outer areas of the packaging film with an air cushion and thus conduct electricity particularly well. The friction between the packaging film and the product in particular quickly creates a charge, and the discharge is potentially harmful.

Paper-laminated packaging film with dimples

This type of cushioning film has a layer of brown kraft paper. On the one hand, this guarantees that the packaging film is a good deal more resistant. The brown cover is much harder to pierce than the simple packaging film and also protects against moisture and humidity. Another decisive advantage: the paper-laminated air film is opaque and shields the contents from view. This type of film is particularly suitable for overseas transports, whereby it makes additional packaging obsolete, which ensures a reduction in shipping costs that should not be underestimated.

Fleece-laminated bubble films

The layer of soft fleece is what makes this type of bubble wrap so special. It makes it particularly suitable for securely packaging sensitive surfaces. Wood, glass, marble and other materials that are easily affected by scratches are given professional treatment by the fleece. Fleece is also well suited for removals due to the surface protection and thanks to the better protection against puncturing.

Bubble films & UV filters

Sensitive materials, including many liquids, must be protected from direct sunlight. On the other hand, this can change the properties of the contents. If you still need outdoor storage, you should use UV-resistant bubble wrap. Thanks to the UV filter, long-term storage with simultaneous exposure to sunlight is also possible without any problems.

Small and large bubbles - an overview of the different types of bubble wrap

The right material has an enormous influence on the protection provided by the air foil. However, the design is also crucial in order to adapt the packaging material to the objects to be protected. Differences in surfaces and weight make it necessary to choose the right air foil. The types of bubble wrap differ in the following criteria:

Width of the roll
Number of layers
Size of the studs
Colour of the foil

bubble wrap in 100 cm and 120 cm rolls for your packaging to protect smaller and larger goods.

Bubble wrap is sold on rolls with a length of several metres. But there are also differences in the width of the film rolls. While smaller and larger widths are also sold, 100 cm and 120 cm have established themselves as standard sizes. In general, these are the most favourable dimensions due to the high production volume, although the film can of course also be easily cut to size, especially for smaller shipping items. Which width is the right one for you depends solely on the size of the object to be packed.

Three-ply bubble films as a more resistant alternative for sharp objects

The standard is the LUPO film with 2 layers, one of which serves as a cover film and the other as a bubble film. This has the advantage of low weight and favourable price. It is popular in the mail order business because it reliably protects smaller items without particularly sensitive surfaces. In some cases, however, it is advisable to use three layers of bubble wrap instead of only two. This variant is much more resistant. It is particularly good at preventing sharp objects from piercing it, also protects bulky objects and should be used when several packed objects rub against each other during transport.

The additional layer lies on top of the bubble layer. The small bubbles are therefore no longer tangible in three-layer bubble films, which makes it easy for you to distinguish between them. Meanwhile, almost all online shops use bubble wrap where to buy the popular bubble wrap? You can buy it online at Verpacking.com from Berlin.

Where can I get environmentally friendly recycled air foil for moving and transporting heavy and bulky goods?

The larger an item is, the stronger the packaging should be. Especially when shipping bulky and heavy goods, for example during your move, the thin packaging film with its small nubs is no longer sufficient. The large nubs of the cushioning film, however, provide the necessary remedy. The extra air cushions heavy objects better. After all, in the event of a shock, these are exposed to significantly higher forces due to their weight.

But the packaging film with larger dimples also offers other advantages. For one thing, it fills up gaps in shipping containers so you don't have to use as many additional air cushions, which reduces your material costs. Also, the air in the bubble wrap, which has large nubs, lasts much longer, making it ideal for longer transport distances. This bubble wrap is of course available for purchase at Verpacking.com.

Speaking of bubble cushions: These are the ideal addition if there is still too much space left in a larger package and thus the shipping items do not have a secure hold. In this case, bubble cushions have a prophylactic effect, because they prevent the bubble wrap from being exposed to major shocks in the first place. You are probably wondering where to buy bubble wrap. You can find them in various designs directly on Verpacking.com.

Use coloured bubble wrap to match your packaging to your corporate colours.

Packaging material doesn't just have to be colourless and transparent. Bubble wrap is sold in many different colours. Although this has no influence on the protection of the packaged objects, it can still be practical. In logistics, for example, you can assign certain colours to objects to make them easier to recognise later. In shipping, on the other hand, coloured bubble wrap can be used to specially mark important parts or to coordinate the packaging with the company colours.

Bubble film and its uses - from crafting to cushioning

Although bubble wrap can also be used, for example, for handicrafts, for insulating greenhouses or simply as a pastime for plopping - its strengths, however, come into play in transport, shipping and storage.

The packaging film with air cushion cushions and insulates, keeps dust and scratches away and is also water-repellent. Under certain circumstances, it can even have an antistatic effect. It is therefore perfect for transporting fragile objects, objects with sensitive surfaces or electrical appliances (antistatic bubble wrap). But bubble wrap can also shield corners, sharp edges and points from all kinds of dangers. Not insignificant is also the possibility that this packaging film can fill cavities. In this way, it prevents individual parts in a package from slipping and damaging each other. However, many companies ask themselves: where do I get it?

The following are the most popular uses:
Packaging material in the mail order business
Surface protection for furniture transport and removals
Weather and UV-resistant storage

The advantages of nubby packaging film are manifold. On the one hand, packaging material air cushion is considered inexpensive and, on top of that, it can often even be used several times, which leads to a significant reduction in costs. Disposal is also easy, as bubble wrap is suitable for recycling, which makes it particularly environmentally friendly. It can be used for all common items, whereby size and weight are irrelevant. Thanks to its resilience, it provides reliable protection for a long time, even in adverse conditions.

Why the bubbles of the packaging film with air cushion belong on the inside

Should the flat side or the nubby side rest on the item to be protected? There is probably no universal answer to this question. However, it is recommended that the nubs face the inside. This ensures that the packaging film hugs the item even better, while the pressure can be distributed much more evenly on the smooth side. Simply tape the wrapping film to the item and make sure that it really is as tight as possible. When wrapping items, you can also be a little more generous.

Bubble wrap for packaging: use it 3 ply for heavy goods and 2 ply for light goods

For most products that are shipped on a daily basis, traditional bubble wrap, which is 2 ply, is ideal. It has the best price-performance ratio in this case and can still be used well as an inexpensive filling material after the initial use.

However, the heavier the item, the larger the bubbles should be. The packaging material air cushioning, which has larger nubs, simply provides a better buffer and thus optimally cushions the product's own weight. Empty spaces in packaging can be filled with air cushions for support. Sharp edges and pointed objects, on the other hand, are best protected with the help of particularly strong films. Three-ply air cushion film is ideal for this purpose, or alternatively paper-laminated nap films can help - both are extra strong. The fleece-laminated packaging film air cushion is ideal when sensitive surfaces need to be protected from scratches and marks during transport.