Sealed Air Celebrates Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day with First-Ever Hall of Fame Induction

ELMWOOD PARK, N.J., Jan. 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate the 14^th Annual Bubble Wrap^® Appreciation Day, Sealed Air Corporation has announced that Eric Buss and his 'Bubble Wrap Bike' video have been voted by Bubble Wrap® fans as the first-ever inductee into the official Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day Hall of Fame located on BubbleWrapFun.com.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please visit: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/65391-sealed-air-annual-bubble-wrap-appreciation-day-hall-of-fame-induction 

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140126/MM52450)

"We are proud to kick-off the inaugural year of the Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day Hall of Fame by honoring Eric Buss and his amazing 'Bubble Wrap Bike' video as our first ever inductee, as it most exemplifies the passion, fun and creative uses of our iconic packaging material," said Rohn Shellenberger, business manager for Sealed Air's Product Care division. "On a day where millions around the globe celebrate Bubble Wrap® brand's invention, Buss' video represents what this holiday is all about and we are excited to watch him ride his Bubble Wrap Bike straight into the Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day Hall of Fame."

Buss won not only the hearts of fans, but also induction into the Hall of Fame by shooting a video in which he creatively fastens a roll of Bubble Wrap® brand cushioning in front of the wheel of his bike to make a continuous stream of "pops" as he rides over it. His video rose to "pop"ularity earlier this year, as it amassed more than 1.5 million views on YouTube. Sealed Air selected three finalists for consideration in the Hall of Fame's inaugural year, including fantastic runners up 'JoJo's Bubble Wrap Praise Break' and 'Cat vs. Bubble Wrap.'

"I love popping Bubble Wrap® material as much as anyone... but doing it with my fingers is way too slow for my taste," Buss said. "I thought, 'I need more noise, faster.' What a great country we live in... I'm being awarded for popping Bubble Wrap® material with a bike!"

In addition to Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day immortality, Eric will be awarded a giant bale of commemorative Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day Hall of Fame Bubble Wrap® brand protective cushioning. Fans can visit the new Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day Hall of Fame at www.BubbleWrapFun.com.

More On Bubble Wrap® and Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day
Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day is celebrated every year on the last Monday in January.

The originally intended use for Bubble Wrap® was entirely different than how it is used today. Inventors Marc Chavannes and Al Fielding originally developed a plastic they hoped to market as textured wallpaper.  When that idea did not take off, the inventors began to have some success marketing the product as a greenhouse insulator.

Chavannes then realized that Bubble Wrap® brand cushioning could be used as an improvement from paper and old newspapers for cushioning fragile items. Once the opportunity was identified, the inventors worked hard on the manufacturing process for Bubble Wrap® cushioning in an effort to create an ideal packaging material.  After a lot of tinkering, they developed a special, proprietary barrier protection which prevented air from leaking and resulted in the crisp "Pop" that Bubble Wrap® brand is famous for.

About Sealed Air
Sealed Air Corporation creates a world that feels, tastes and works better. In 2012, the company generated revenue of approximately $7.6 billion by helping our customers achieve their sustainability goals in the face of today's biggest social and environmental challenges. Our portfolio of widely recognized brands, including Cryovac® brand food packaging solutions, Bubble Wrap® brand cushioning and Diversey™ cleaning and hygiene solutions, ensures a safer and less wasteful food supply chain, protects valuable goods shipped around the world, and improves health through clean environments. Sealed Air has approximately 25,000 employees who serve customers in 175 countries. To learn more, visit www.sealedair.com.

SOURCE Sealed Air Corporation