5 Things I learnt about packaging that blew my mind!

Who doesn't love a good "did you know" list.

Or in my case are more superlative "blow your mind" list!

I have been rather fortunate to be part of an industry and market that continues to evolve, change and have some legacy products that have helped shaped the world we live in today.

That industry is of course packaging.

For many packaging is seen as a non-glamourous industry, but regardless of its glamour status, it is an important one. And with great importance comes cool, mind-blowing facts (at least in my eyes).

So let's kick off with 5 things I learned about packaging that blew my mind!

1. Bubble Wrap was invented to be wallpaper.

That's right, the humble Bubble Wrap's first reason for existence was for textured wallpaper!

Created in 1957 by Alfred Fielding and a Swiss inventor called Marc Chavannes, Bubble Wrap is the by-product of a failed invention first designed to be textured wallpaper (thank goodness for that, can you imagine houses with Bubble Wrap on the walls), that failure then led the two to form the Global Packaging company Sealed Air, not to mention the worlds cheapest "stress-reliever".

2. The first recorded retail bag was first developed as early as 1852.

Who would have thought right? The humble brown paper bag according to many researchers including Paper Mart article, points to an inventor Francis Wolle who created the first mass machine to produce the brown paper bag.

3. Almost everything we use today requires packaging.

I'm tempted to say "absolutely everything" rather than "almost everything" but I know I will get hammered on that "absolute" viewpoint.

But the reality is, packaging is used for everything and I guess that reality also means there are consequences (good and bad), but many of what we use, wear, eat and live have had some form of packaging touch it.

In fact, I wrote a little piece about it here back in 2019 highlighting its importance and its connection to everything and everyone.

4. The rise of unboxing videos

Want to know what some of the highest viewed videos on YouTube are?

The answer, Unboxing videos.

How many views are racked up watching other people unbox products? Ten's of Millions! that's right ten's of millions of views are of influencers and content creators sharing their experience in unboxing a new toy or the latest tech gadget and these guys have literally made a living out of this.

Long-time content creators like Unbox Therapy and Ryan's Toy Reviews are some of the top YouTubers driving this trend.

Why is this trend so popular?

Well, an article from Better Marketing notes that the rise of unboxing videos brings back a sense of curiosity and child-like excitement similar to that of opening presents on Christmas day, so that means how you package your items, and what you use really matters, especially when you have an audience of millions watching its every step.

5. The best people come from the packaging industry

This point is pure bias and I already know it.

I don't have any tangible facts to back this up, outside of the "trust me" and "us packaging folk" are just the best because we make the world go round, however when you do breakdown the people that work in the packaging industry, nearly every profession from sales to engineers has the capability to work in packaging.

The video below from The Packaging School highlights this very point of mine.

In all seriousness, the people in this industry are innovators, change-makers and genuine about making a difference. The likes of Sustainable Business Network here in New Zealand for example look to recognize these difference makers and develop packaging workshops and frameworks for positive change in this industry, and organizations like WorldStar are actively promoting and recognizing innovative packaging design and products making a sustainable and positive differences.

So there you have it, so next time you think about packaging hopefully it will prompt all the good things that this industry has to offer, from cost-effective stress relief to innovative materials that overtime become part of our society and pop culture much like Bubble-wrap did.

Till next time,

Michael Basagre