Looking for an Alternative to Bubble Wrap?

Thankfully, with every passing day, people are becoming more aware of their surroundings and more considerate of what they are putting out there. Bubble wrap is a single-use item that eventually ends up in landfills and has compelled people to explore sustainable packing options.

With constant trial and error, experiments and innovation, we now have access to a few eco-friendly packing alternatives. Even in the industrial sector, we can observe a significant shift from plastic bubble wrap to recyclable packaging.

Even though some people find it hard to ditch the suitable old plastic, the fact that it may take 10-1,000 years to decompose naturally is enough to make the switch. Why not use those old newspapers and magazines to wrap up all your fragile items? It will cost you nothing and provide sufficient padding to safeguard everything. It is indeed a great option but only valid for domestic usage. We also recommend using some kind of void fill along with newspaper to ensure everything stays in the boxes and doesn’t move around.

Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Bubble Wrap

Eco-friendly packing alternatives are slowly making their way into the mainstream market. You, too, can explore these options at your local home depot or order them online for ease of access.

Once you get your hands on sustainable, recyclable, and eco-friendly Packaging Materials, you will not look back at plastic bubble wrap, and that’s for sure. These are the alternative materials to bubble wrap:

Air cushions

These small bags of air fill empty space in a box, cushioning items and preventing them from bouncing around during transport. Air Cushion, sometimes called Air Pillow, protective packaging is an alternative to bubble wrap, loose fill packing peanuts and paper void fill. Supplied on a roll, air cushions are inflated by a small machine when needed, making them an ideal space-saving void fill solution.

Paper bubbler-wrap

People prefer packing fragile things in bubble wrap because it provides extra cushion and shock absorbency. We understand that the tangible cushioning ensures that your stuff will remain safe and sound. What if we tell you, you can get your hands on biodegradable bubble wrap in the USA?

Paper bubble wrap is widely used in the commercial and domestic sectors. It provides cushioning, has deep indentations and is as easy to use as plastic bubble wrap. It’s 100% biodegradable and recyclable.

Newspaper-magazines

Are you about to move and contemplate how to take fragile items such as glassware, ceramics, and china along with you? No, bubble wrap is not your only option. One of the cheapest alternatives is present right in your house!

Why not use those old newspapers and magazines to wrap up all your fragile items? It will cost you nothing and provide sufficient padding to safeguard everything. It is indeed a great option but only valid for domestic usage.

We also recommend using some kind of void fill along with newspaper to ensure everything stays in the boxes and doesn’t move around.

Shredded paper

Shredded paper is widely used for gift packing and parcel cushioning. Shredded paper is eco-friendly and provides sufficient protection. Thankfully it is already being used in e-commerce, where consumers receive packages packed tightly with shredded paper.

Shredded paper is also a hot favorite because it is cheap. The commercial sector has already accepted shredded paper as a bubble wrap alternative because it is practical, affordable, and looks good. Most online retailers customize the shredded paper to match their company’s logo, which adds a personalized effect and looks fantastic.

Corrugated Cardboard

Here comes another eco-friendly option for packing large household items, furniture, and electronics. Corrugated cardboard is cheap, can be bought in large quantities, and does the job just like plastic bubble wrap.

Corrugated cardboard is made with Kraft containerboard and condensed wood fibers. It is designed to have a stiff surface with paper traps, which also works as an insulator. You can use corrugated cardboard to protect your stuff by wrapping it snugly. Various storage facilities use this technique to protect their customers’ valuables in their storage units.

Seaweed

Now, this option might seem unusual to you, but believe us when we say it is the next big thing. Seaweed has been used as a packing material in some parts of the world for ages. It is natural, costs less, and has a lot of fiber, providing shock absorbency and biodegradability.

Seaweed has the potential to be the front runner when it comes to plastic alternatives; the only downside is, at the moment, it costs a bit more than plastic. Still, it is being accepted as an eco-friendly option open-heartedly worldwide.

Packing paper

Packing paper is the unsung hero when it comes to environmentally friendly packaging. It is versatile, flexible, and absorbs shocks pretty efficiently. You can wrap anything in it, from fragile and trim pieces such as glassware, or plates to large bulky items such as furniture, paintings, and pots; it does the job excellently.

A single, snug, all-around wrapping of packing paper will protect your items from damage. The good thing is it is also widely accepted in commercial storage and industrial sectors. Many small businesses and entrepreneurs are starting their businesses with eco-friendly practices and using brown packing paper to pack and deliver their products to the consumer.

Packing peanuts

Made from corn, these peanuts are an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic peanuts and bubble wrap. Packing peanuts work for void-filling and keeping things in place. They are great for void-filling and keeping things in place. It is cheaper than recyclable bubble wrap, seaweed, and corrugated cardboard.

Whenever we think of packing peanuts, those squeaky Styrofoam packing peanuts come to mind, and you must be wondering how those can be eco-friendly. We are pleased to inform you that biodegradable packing peanuts are also widely available now; they are made of starch derived from wheat and corn.

Spare clothes

So here is an old-school packing suggestion which will blow your mind. The primary purpose of biodegradable packaging is to reduce waste and one-time consumption. And well, it can be achieved by recycling and repurposing already available means to their maximum potential.

If you are moving house and have a lot of stuff to take along, stop looking for packaging material. The best eco-friendly packaging material is present right in front of your eyes. Utilize your clothes, rags, and towels to make padding and void fill your boxes.

Do you have fragile and breakable items to pack? Wrap them in thick clothes, which will work better than bubble wrap.

Great thing? Using old clothes as packaging material will virtually cost nothing.

Hive-style paper wrap

Talk about innovation; hive-style wrapping paper is one step ahead then ordinary wrapping paper. It can be deemed an architectural wonder as it is super strong, recyclable, and flexible, despite being paper. Hive-style paper, as apparent from the name, resembles a honeycomb or hive.

The diagonal criss-cross and corrugated cardboard form super strong hexagons that can be quickly wrapped along any surface. Due to its flexibility, it can be contorted and twisted to cover up any crack and edges.

Moving blankets

Another option that might be new to you but commonly used for securing large and heavy objects. Moving blankets are heavy-duty blankets made from polyester and cotton material. Polyester and cotton are engineered to replicate a strong mesh that is flexible and durable.

Moving blankets are a great eco-friendly alternative to bubble wrap as they can be reused countless times, provide excellent protection, and secure your stuff from any damage, scrap and breakage.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do you make bubble wrap?

Bubble wrap is made from tiny beads of resin with different properties. The resin is then combined and melted to form a thin film. Next, the film is flattened to the desired thickness and fed through rollers. These rollers have small holes that vacuum air onto the film to form the air bubbles.

2. What can I use if I don’t have bubble wrap?

• Environmentally Friendly Bubble Wrap Alternatives
• Use your clothes, towels and other household items.
• Repurpose newspapers or magazines: wrap, scrunch, twist or shred.
• Packing paper AKA kraft paper.
• Paper bubble wrap.
• Shredded paper.
• Corrugated cardboard sheets.
• Hive-style paper wrap.
• Loose fill chips AKA packing peanuts.

3. What is equivalent to bubble wrap?

Green Wrap is a fully compostable, recyclable, and reusable paper bubble wrap alternative. It’s made from two layers of brown paper with a hexagonal pattern cut into it. This pattern creates a raised effect that can protect a wide range of products.

4. How do you protect a package without bubble wrap?

Packing paper is cheaper than bubble wrap so you can save some money there. By the same token, though, because packing paper is much thinner than bubble wrap, you will have to use more of it. Blankets: Thick furniture blankets or old blankets you no longer use can be a great alternative for bubble wrap.

5. What is the one downside to bubble wrap?

Bubble wraps are not recommended for direct food contact due to the potential risk of contamination from plastic residues or chemicals. However, they can be used as secondary packaging for non-food items to provide cushioning and protection during transit.

6. Is shredded paper as good as bubble wrap?

When it comes to finding an eco-friendly packaging option, shredded paper is one of the best solutions. Not only is it more sustainable than plastic, but it also offers superior protection and cushioning for your items while they’re in transit.