Versatile Bubble Products for Superior Protection

When protecting the product from damage in transit, the first thing that comes to mind is to wrap it with bubble wrap or use bubble products. Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes invented bubble wrap by accident. Sealed Air Corporation owns the term “bubble wrap." Mainly bubble products are used to wrap fragile items like electronics, medicinal products, automotive, heavy, or light items. During transit, storage, packaging, or moving, bubble products primarily shield the product from scratches, abrasions, and crushing. Using bubble products for cushioning does not increase shipping costs because they are lightweight, durable, and flexible. Because bubble products are lightweight, they reduce the shipping cost of the packaging product; their durability provides strong and long-lasting protection to the packaging product; and their flexibility allows for the wrapping of any packaging product. 

Bubble products have one smooth side and another rough side with trapped air bubbles. When handling, transiting, storing, or moving the product, the trapped air in the air pockets of the bubble product acts as a shock absorbent. When wrapping the packaging product, the rough side (the side with trapped air pockets) of the bubble product should face the packaging product, while the smooth side of the bubble product should face away from the packaging product. As the smooth side of the bubble product faces outward, it becomes easier to stick labels to it, if the packaging product requires labeling.

Different types of bubble packaging products can be used to protect the packaging product. Here are a few commonly used bubble packaging products that are currently available on the market.

Bubble Rolls:

Bubble rolls are the most widely used bubble products in e-commerce, medicine, the automotive industry, pharmaceuticals, electronics, and many other industries. There are many different types of bubble rolls on the market. For more information on bubble rolls, please read Air Bubble Rolls: Everything You Need to Know

Below is the Table of different types of Bubble Rolls:

Types of Bubble Rolls	Characteristics of Bubble Rolls
Standard Bubble Rolls (3/16")	Light cushioning for small items; used for small items.
Standard Bubble Rolls (5/16")	Cushioning for medium and general purposes; used for medium items.
Standard Bubble Rolls (1/2")	Cushioning for large items.
Heavy-Duty Bubble Rolls	Stronger than the standard bubble roll. Used for fragile products and used for delicate, sharp, and heavy products.
Extra Heavy Duty Bubble Rolls	Three-layer bubble protection. Used to wrap heavy items, parts, tools, sharp objects, metal and wood products.
Perforated Economy Bubble Rolls	Perforated every 12". Easy to tear. Saves time and labor costs.
Non-Perforated Economy Bubble Rolls	Economical. Used for single use. Fills void spaces in package. Needs cutter or scissors to cut at required width of the bubble roll.
Colored Bubble Rolls	Available in various colors: blue, purple, red, yellow, green, and orange. Creates a memorable unboxing experience.
Anti-Static Bubble Rolls	Low-cost. Eliminates static electricity. Protects electronics from static damage.
Bubble Tubing Rolls	Tube Rolls can be custom-cut, to pack, seal, and protect the product. For easy packing, it does not need all four sides to be sealed or taped. Available in many colors.
Eco-Friendly Bubble Rolls	Provides cushioning. Supports sustainable packaging.
Self-Adhesive Bubble Rolls	Self-adhesive. Leaves no residue. Cushions all products except wooden.
Cohesive Bubble Rolls	One side sticks to itself when wrapped around the product. Cushions all products, even wood.
Cool Shield Bubble Rolls	Thermal packaging protects from moisture, odor, temperature, and vapor. It is used for wrapping food, medical products, and plants.
Black Bubble Rolls	Hides the product. Available in black matte and black glossy. Used for fragile and expensive products.
Kraft Bubble Rolls	Water-resistant, Strong and Flexible. Used for small, delicate items.
Foam Bubble Rolls (Laminated)	Flexible,Tear-resistant, Puncture-resistant and has Opaque-colored backing. They are used for jewelry, furniture, and heavy products.
Parcel-Ready Bubble Rolls	Meets the guideline for UPS packaging and shipping. Excellent for small businesses that have low-volume packaging.
FDA-Approved Bubble Rolls	Approved by the FDA. Safe for contact with food, plants, and medicinal products.
VCI Bubble Roll (Volatile Corrosion Inhibitor Bubble Roll)	Used for wrapping metal and jewelry, to protect them from corrosion due to moisture, air and rust in transit or storage.

Even though the bubble roll industry competes with various other cushioning products in the packaging industry, there is still substantial growth in bubble roll usage. It is predicted that the usage of bubble rolls will only increase with time, though there are very high chances of using environmentally friendly bubble rolls compared to standard polyethylene bubble rolls to support the climate crisis. 

Bubble Mailers/Bubble Envelopes:

Bubble mailers are mailers that have an outer covering of paper or poly and an inner padding of a protective bubble layer. Bubble mailers that are made of paper outside come in kraft or white.

Below are different types of Bubble Mailers/ Bubble Envelopes:

• All Paper Bubble Mailers have a kraft bubble lining inside that mimics bubble cushioning, and on the outside, they also have kraft paper. It has a double layer of protection, thus protecting the product during shipment. They are small, lightweight, curbside recyclable, and have low shipping costs.

• Colored Bubble Mailers are called Glamour mailers; they come in a variety of colors like black, red, purple, green, blue, pink, yellow, silver, and gold. They are moisture-resistant and lightweight. They also have peel-and-seal adhesive closures. They can be of a matte or shiny finish. 

• Cool Barrier Bubble Mailers are used for perishable or temperature-sensitive items. The inner layer of the mailer has a 3/16” bubble lining that protects the product, whereas the outer layer has thermal material that safeguards the product from temperature variation. They are lightweight, durable, puncture-resistant, and water-repellant. It also has a peel-and-seal strip for easy closure of the mailer, so no tape is required to close the product.

• Kraft Heat-Seal Bubble Mailers have a poly 3/16” bubble lining inside and kraft paper covering the outside. They are lightweight and generally in a golden-yellow color. Tape, staples, heat seal or glue are required to close these bubble mailers.

• Kraft Self-Seal Bubble Mailers are lightweight bubble mailers that also have a 3/16” high slip bubble lining for easy product insertion. It also has a peel-and-stick lip that provides secure, tamper-evident closure and a golden kraft paper exterior. They are recyclable.

• Bubble-lined Poly Mailers have a polyethylene lining on the exterior and bubble cushioning inside to protect the product. These mailers are moisture, temperature, and tear-resistant with convenient peel-and-seal closures.

• White Self-Seal Bubble Mailers are lightweight bubble mailers that also have a 3/16” high slip bubble lining for easy product insertion and are in white color. It also has a peel-and-stick lip that provides a secure, tamper-evident closure.

Bubble Pouches/Bags: 

Bubble pouches/bags are used for packing products but they need an extra layer of protection while shipping. Thus the product that is packed in bubble pouches/bags are kept in a box before shipping. It cannot be shipped directly without the extra layer of protection around it, while bubble mailers can be shipped directly without extra layer of protection. Thus it is used as the first layer of packaging when a product needs secondary packaging for storing or in transit. Bubble pouches are for convenience of just inserting the product in the bubble pouch instead of wrapping and taping the product.

Below are the different types of Bubble Pouches/Bags:

• Anti-static self-seal Bubble Pouches are mainly used for packaging electronics. It has an easy-to-use, self-seal pouch with lip and tape seal. It has 3/16” bubble lining inside. 

• Flush Cut Bubble Pouches are open-end flush cut(precise straight cut) pouches. They are reusable with 3/16” bubble lining on the outside and smooth on the outside.

• Self-Seal Bubble Pouches do not need any wrapping. After inserting the product into the self-seal bubble pouch, the tape can be peeled on the pouch and sealed. It has a 3/16” bubble-high slip.

• Super Duty Self-Seal Bubble Pouches are used for packing heavy and fragile items It has cushioning of 5/16” bubble high slip which is sandwiched between two smooth polyethylene layers, and thus product can be packed effortlessly.

• Reclosable/Sliding Bubble Pouches are reusable bags as they have double-track zippers or sliding zippers for extra securing. They are best if the products need long-term storage and protection after the first use of the product.

• VCI (Volatile Corrosion Inhibitor) Bubble Pouches are used for packing and protecting metal and jewelry from corrosion through moisture, air, and rust in transit or storage.

Bubble Sheets:

Bubble sheets are pre-cut bubble rolls. They may be in the form of perforated bubble rolls or stacks of bubble sheets. Bubble sheet sizes are mostly standard UPSable sizes, but they can also have customized sheet cuts. They are used in between the packaging products or also wrapped around the packaging product. Their pre-cut nature saves time and labor costs during product packaging.

The new product in the market is Paper Bubble Sheets, which are used as void fill, wrapping, and cushioning for small to medium-sized goods. It is made of renewable materials so it is eco-friendly and recyclable.

Bubble Dispenser Roll Boxes:

A bubble dispenser roll box is a bubble roll that fits in a box, and the roll is easily dispensable. As the bubble roll is packed in the box, there is no need for a bubble dispenser rack, and it can be easily relocated when required. Bubble-roll dispenser boxes provide convenience in packaging the product. There is no waste of bubble roll while packaging the product, as it can only be dispensed as needed. They are ideal for medicinal and food packaging because they are clean and dirt-free. 

Below are the different types of Bubble Dispenser Roll Boxes:

Bubble Dispenser Pack:

• Portable bubble dispenser pack.
• They are available in different bubble-height dispenser packs. 3⁄16”, 5⁄16”, and ½” height bubble dispensers are the most standard sizes available in the market.
• They are available in both perforated and non-perforated bubble dispenser packs.
• They are simple and quick to dispense and wrap, and there is no waste of bubble roll while dispensing from the box.

Adhesive Air Bubble Dispenser Pack:

• Portable bubble dispenser pack.
• Adhesive bubble roll sticks to the product without leaving residue on the product.
• They are available in both perforated and non-perforated adhesive bubble dispenser packs.
• They are simple to dispense and wrap, and there is no waste of bubble roll while dispensing from the box.

Cohesive Air Bubble Dispenser Pack:

• Portable bubble dispenser pack.
• Cohesive bubble roll sticks to itself and does not stick to the product. It also does not leave residue on the product.
• They are available as perforated cohesive bubble dispenser packs and non-perforated cohesive bubble dispenser packs.
• They are simple and fast to dispense and wrap, and there is no waste of bubble roll while dispensing from the box.

Anti-Static Bubble Dispenser Pack:

• Portable bubble dispenser pack.
• Anti-static bubble roll provides static protection for electronic products and is usually available in pink.
• They are available in both perforated and non-perforated anti-static bubble dispenser packs.
• They are simple and fast to dispense and wrap, and there is no waste of bubble roll while dispensing from the box.

Bubble Corner Guards: 

Bubble corner guards, as their name suggests, are best used to protect the corners of products, may they be frames, paintings, furniture, books, mirrors, panels, or all other products that have edges. They are the best cushioning for packaging products that do not need packaging all around; only the corner edges of the product need cushioning while in storage, transit, and moving. They are available in different bubble heights: 3⁄16”, 5⁄16”, and ½”. They come in small, medium and large sizes. They have a 3rd web bubble and are thus smooth on both sides. Thus, it gives the option to stick labels or write on the corner guards instead of on the packaged item for product identification.

To select the right kind of bubble corner guard for the packaging product, review below points:

• Size and thickness of the edge of the packaging product that needs cushioning by bubble corner guards. Select the bubble corner guards (small, medium, or large) depending on the size of the edge of the packaging product. 
• How light or heavy the packaging product that requires cushioning will determine the selection of bubble heights of 3⁄16”, 5⁄16”, and ½”.
• Type of packaging product that needs cushioning by a bubble corner guard. 
• Determine if the packaging product is for storage, transit, or moving, choose the bubble corner guard accordingly.

Bubble Pallet Covers:

Bubble pallet covers are used for protecting products that are packed on the pallet. Cool Barrier bubble pallet cover maintains protection against humidity, heat and moisture. It is mainly used for protecting food and other products that are sensitive to temperature.

Air Cushioning Rolls/Pillows:

To create air pillows, non-inflated air pillow rolls must be inflated by an inflating machine. These rolls are bags or pockets that can be attached to the inflating machine and inflated with air on demand. Air pillows are made using Air Cushioning Film Technology. 

The air moves between the pockets, so the air pillows don't pop in transit, protecting the product from damage. 

• They are best used as a blocker between two products. 
• Depending on the size of the air cushioning roll, one roll of air cushioning roll can replace at least seven bags of 14 cubic feet of loose fill.
• Bubble-air pillow quilts can be used for bracing, wrappin, cushioning, and intercalating the product.
• Double-cushioned air pillows can be used to wrap the product from all sides because of their flexibility. 
• Air pillows are an innovative, cost-effective packaging solution. It can be used as a heavy-duty void fill.
• Air pillows cannot protect delicate items.
• Air pillows are lightweight and have a lower shipping cost than bubble rolls, as they are not inflated. Thus, they have lower dimensional weight shipping costs.
• They can be made on demand.
• They come in various sizes.
• Less plastic is used in manufacturing air pillows than bubble roll.
• They can be used as corner protectors, too.
• They are compact.
• It is a cleaner packaging solution, unlike packing peanuts.
• When used to protect the product, air pillows do not stick to it, and thus, the packaging is clean and easy to unwrap.
• Paper Air Pillows is a new product that is made from renewable material available in the market. It is eco-friendly and recyclable.

Bubble Roll Machine:

Bubble roll machines are table-top machines used to make bubble wrap instantly. They are easy and fast to operate and save warehouse space. Bubble roll machines are also used to make instant air pillows and bubble quilts from air films on demand. They are best for small packaging requirements.

Bubble Roll Storage Systems: 

Bubble roll storage systems, as the name suggests, are stands that store bubble rolls. The stand is mainly constructed from 1 1/2", 16 gauge steel tubing. It can support a weight of up to 300 pounds. Bubble rolls are placed on the Stand's steel tubing for easy dispensing and cutting. The Stand may or may not have rotary shear cutters. Bubble roll storage systems may have casters for portability. Bubble wrap hangers are also used to store bubble roll, they can be wall mounted as well as a stand. Wall-mounted bubble hanger saves warehouse space.

In conclusion, Bubble Products are cost-effective, lightweight, strong, and durable and make an excellent choice for cleaner packaging.