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Generally speaking, cushioning is used in packaging to protect fragile items during their transportation. Packages are often dropped or kicked accidentally or generally impacted somehow during their transportation and so cushioning the packaging is a step that must be taken to ensure fragile objects are not harmed.

An effective way of achieving this is to use bubble wrap. Bubble wrap has been put to good use in this way since it was invented around 50 years ago and still does just as good a job today.

In essence, bubble wrap is a plastic, see through sheet with regularly spaced out bubbles of air in it which provide the cushioning for the item.

In 1957, two engineers (Marc Chavannes and Alfred Fielding) invented bubbled wrap and the name was a trademark of their company The Sealed Air Corporation and technically speaking, still is.

The bubbles that make up the cushion will usually be available in a range of sizes for bigger and smaller items that need packing as different amounts of cushioning are required for each item. Multiple layers will usually be used on fragile objects, but for objects that arent likely to break, but have easily damageable/scratchable surfaces, a single layer would be enough.

The bubbles can be as small as a quarter of an inch in diameter, and then can usually go up to an inch in diameter but, depending on where you buy it from, you can usually make a customised size request. The reason for this is of course, the bigger the air bubbles, the greater protection the bubble wrap provides.

Bubble wrap comes in different materials because some delicate objects may require wrapping in a specific material to avoid damage, such as sensitive electronic parts that would be damaged by the static of the standard bubble wrap material.

Bubble wrap, as we all know can be played with for entertainment. Popping the bubbles makes a somewhat satisfying popping noise that delights children. Some websites have whats known as virtual bubble wrap which pops when you click on it. Some people may call this pointless, some people may call it fantastic, I think its both.