Bubble Wrap: The Package or the Stressbuster

-Tryambak Gour
20210128033
Behavioural Architecture

Bubble wrap- a pliable transparent plastic material used for packing fragile items. It is
basically regularly spaced, protruding air-filled hemispheres (bubbles) provide cushioning for
fragile items.
In 1957 two inventors named Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes were attempting to create
a three-dimensional plastic wallpaper. Although the idea was a failure, they found that what
they made could be used as packing material. Fielding in 1960 went to be in the founding
team of Sealed Air. The term "bubble wrap" is owned by Sealed Air Corporation but has
become a generic trademark. Similar product names include bubble pack, air bubble
packing, bubble wrapping and aeroplast.
How does Bubble Wrap- a simple and effective packaging material affect human behaviour
so notably that there’s a day in appreciation of Bubble Wrap? (Last Monday of January is
regarded as Bubble Wrap Association Day)
HOW AND WHY?
For years together now, bubble wrap bursting has been something which has been a source
of multiple good feelings to humans, some feel relieved from stress, some just enjoy, some
are able to fulfil their urge to fidget and make some time to think across topics or send their
creativity to free flow in their heads. Bubble wraps are found to have been as relaxing to
people as 30 minutes of massage.
Popping bubble wraps helps relax that muscle tension. It reduces stress and anxiety. In fact,
studies have shown that, sometimes, the human brain receives feel-good chemicals like
dopamine after popping bubble wrap.
Studies have shown that it's easier to leave stress behind when you can focus on something
else. Popping bubble wrap sheets gives one that outlet so one can move on with their day.
When you dwell on things that upset you, it gets harder to salvage your day. Bubble wrap is
a great distraction so you're not left with negative thoughts.
Compared to meditation, popping bubble wraps can help you de-stress faster. This is
because popping a row of bubbles gives you instant gratification. It's a universal truth that
people of all ages love to pop bubble wrap.
Another recent article talked about how bubble wrap for stress release stations are getting
set up by universities as a way to de-stress students during exam season. These alternatives
are proving to be as useful- or more useful in some situations- in stress relief than puppies,
petting zoos, or bouncy castles.
Acknowledging this alternative use, some websites provide a virtual bubble wrap program
which displays a sheet of bubble wrap that users may pop by clicking on the bubbles, while
the Mugen Puchipuchi is a compact electronic toy simulating bubble wrap popping. Products
such as Pop-Its, which can be inverted and popped again, rose significantly in popularity in
2021, marketed as a stress reliever.
Hence, we see how this highly successful packaging material has made its way to being a
stress reliver and a fidgety fun toy as well, completely sub-consciously.