Bubble wrap and its sustainable alternatives

However, did you know its original purpose was actually for wallpaper? It was made by sealing two shower curtains together, as the air bubbles it contains was found to give wallpaper a ‘textured appearance’. Despite this, the experiment never took off as few consumers wanted to be concealed in such a padded room. If you’d like to know more about the origins of bubble wrap, you can find out more here.

Even though bubble wrap was a breakthrough in the packaging industry and became the most well-known form of protective packaging world-wide, it can be rather damaging to the environment with it being made from plastic materials that are not biodegradable. Luckily, recyclable bubble wrap does exist and a large proportion of it available now you can recycle. In this article we will explore some of your sustainability options to make sure your protective packaging remains eco-friendly!

Furniguard

Jiffi Furni-guard are used as an alternative material to bubble wrap and is more environmentally friendly whilst maintaining its enhanced protection for furniture products. Furni-guard offers increased strength, puncture resistance, cushioning protection and it is ideal for domestic appliances, business and overseas removals, furniture manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers. Furni-guard is also water-resistant and re-usable so it will also save you money. At Swiftpak, we have Furniguard available in stock to purchase today.

PLA

Corn-starch has become popular amongst many companies and industries around the world as they hunt for plastic alternatives. This is because it is organic and biodegradable and is made from maize plants, meaning it has no effect on the environment. For food as well as pharmaceutical packaging, at Swiftpak we are big fans of Polylactic packaging (PLA) which is made from corn starch. When disposed of correctly, packaging materials made from this product will break down into carbon dioxide and water so that no harmful toxins are produced, therefore it benefits our environment. Want to find out more about PLA? Take a look at our Swiftpak PLA offering and discover packaging products that could enhance your operations.

Paper-void fill

Depending on what type of products you are trying to protect, another good alternative to bubble wrap is paper void fill, because it’s eco-friendly, recyclable and reusable. They are also more cheaply available and affordable on the market, therefore, most industries are using recycled paper, as not only is it safe, but it also protects the products we ship. At Swiftpak, we used a product called Paper-void fill as it can be used to fill the space within a package, giving the products protective cushioning. 

Our paper-void fill range comes in a variety of different colours and machines which include fanbold black and white paper, fanfold kraft paper, Chevron paper void fill, paper rolls, as well as PAPERPlus Papillion, Chevron and Track machines. With the machines, which one you choose depends on the product you are trying to protect. contact us today for any questions as our packaging experts are always happy to advise you on the best paper for your products.

Embossed Paper Rolls

A fully 100% recyclable alternative to bubble wrap, these paper rolls are made from recycled fibre, and feature a bubble pattern over the surface. They can be widely used for cushioned protection of delicate products and is a versatile material that is easy to transport, store and use. Another positive is that it is very compact before use, so it saves on storage space and it is lower cost per sheet than equivalent packaging materials. So, why not give it a go? Take a look at our embossed paper roll products from Swiftpak today.

So, there you have it. If your company is aspiring to be more environmentally friendly and want to learn more about our sustainable packaging options, feel free to speak to a packaging expert at Swiftpak today. We will be happy to help with any of your enquiries!