Three Creative Children and Their Inventions Catch the Eye of 'Pop' Icon

ELMWOOD PARK, N.J., May 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today, Sealed Air Corporation (NYSE: SEE), the creator of Bubble Wrap® brand cushioning, announced the three finalists in the Fourth Annual Bubble Wrap® Competition for Young Inventors, a nationwide competition open to students in grades five through eight.  The three finalists were chosen from more than 2,500 entries from 40 states and will compete for the chance to win a $10,000 grand prize savings bond.  The grand prize winner will be announced at the Bubble Wrap® Awards Ceremony on Saturday, May 22.

"The Bubble Wrap® Competition for Young Inventors allows us to see just how innovative the young minds of America can be," said William V. Hickey, President and Chief Executive Officer, Sealed Air. "All of the entries we received this year were very unique, but the three finalists proved to be the best of show."

This year's finalists include:

• MaryAnn Bulawa, 14, Ava, NY – "Smart Toilet" – A device that attaches to a toilet for conservation of energy and water.
• Matthew Huber, 13, St. Peter, MN – "Petri Bubbles" – A scientific tool designed as an inexpensive alternative to Petri dishes.
• Jared Mann, 13, Christiansburg, VA – "The Fridge Guard" – A curtain designed to help any ordinary refrigerator become more energy efficient.

Each of the finalists was required to build and deliver full-scale working versions of their inventions to be reviewed by a panel of judges.  The three finalists and a family member will be flown to New York City for a chance to win the grand prize.  The second and third prize winners will receive $5,000 and $3,000 U.S. savings bonds, respectively.  The teacher/mentor of each finalist will receive a $500 gift card.  

The Bubble Wrap® Competition for Young Inventors encourages students to demonstrate their creativity and ingenuity by designing an invention that incorporates the use of Bubble Wrap® brand cushioning.  Students were invited to submit original inventions along with a visual and written description that included the name of the invention, the purpose it serves, how it works and how the idea was formulated.

The competition is administered in conjunction with the National Museum of Education and all submitted entries were judged based on their originality, creativity and practicality, as well as their benefit to society, marketability and overall presentation.  This year's competition attracted thousands of entries from all across the U.S., with entries that included everything from a speaker system, to an alarm system alternative, to a game that helps children learn to spell and construct sentences.  You can read more about the 2010 and previous Competition winners at www.bubblewrapcompetition.com.

Despite the attempts of imitators, there is only one Bubble Wrap® brand which has transcended its intended use of protecting valuables to become a "pop" culture phenomenon, celebrating its 50th birthday this year.  Bubble Wrap® cushioning is most recognized for the satisfying release and gleeful joy that comes with the popping of each plastic cell.  In addition, Bubble Wrap® cushioning has been used as a medium for creating works of art, as a fashion statement and as a central prop piece to movies and commercials.  

Bubble Wrap® cushioning has inspired users to come up with hundreds of different uses.  Beyond its "pop" appeal, Bubble Wrap® cushioning has also helped spur the growth of parent company Sealed Air, which today operates in 51 countries and has annual revenue in excess of $4 billion.  

About Sealed Air

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Sealed Air is a leading global innovator and manufacturer of a wide range of packaging and performance-based materials and equipment systems that serve an array of food, industrial, medical, and consumer applications. Operating in 51 countries, Sealed Air's international reach generated revenue of $4.2 billion in 2009. With widely recognized brands such as Bubble Wrap® brand cushioning, Jiffy® protective mailers, Instapak® foam-in-place systems and Cryovac® packaging technology, Sealed Air continues to identify new trends, foster new markets, and deliver innovative solutions to its customers. For more information about Sealed Air, please visit the Company's web site at www.sealedair.com.

SOURCE Sealed Air