The world's most famous protective packaging began as a failed attempt at plastic wallpaper.

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1957, two inventors tried to create textured plastic wallpaper with a paper backing. The product failed to find a home on walls, but the duo realized their invention could protect fragile items during transit. Today, that invention is known globally as Bubble Wrap, the cornerstone of Sealed Air.

Sealed Air was founded in 1960 to market the invention of Alfred W. Fielding and Marc Chavannes. While Bubble Wrap is their most recognizable product, the company grew into a massive packaging conglomerate through decades of strategic acquisitions and internal development. By 1969, the company reported $4 million in sales, largely driven by its proprietary bubble technology. As the product matured, engineers developed a specialized coating by the mid-1960s to ensure the bubbles retained air, transforming it from a leaky curiosity into a reliable industrial standard.

The corporation’s history is marked by complex mergers and legal challenges. In 1998, the original entity merged with the Cryovac Division of W.R. Grace, a move that significantly expanded the company's scale. This era was not without friction; in 2002, the company paid $728 million to settle bankruptcy and fraud allegations related to that merger. Additionally, the company faced scrutiny after the 2003 Station nightclub fire, where lawyers alleged that Sealed Air foam contributed to the blaze. The company settled for $25 million without admitting any wrongdoing.

Beyond bubble cushioning, Sealed Air diversified into food preservation and specialty industrial materials. Cryovac, originally developed in the 1950s to extend the shelf life of holiday turkeys, uses vacuum-sealing technology to inhibit pathogen growth and prevent oxidation. The company also expanded into expanding polyurethane foams like Instapak, which molds to objects during shipping. Following a 2026 acquisition by the private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice for $10.3 billion, the company transitioned from a public entity to a privately held corporation, concluding its long tenure on the New York Stock Exchange.

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