Bubble Wrap Market Size, Share, and Industry Analysis By Material (Low-density Polyethylene (LDPE), High-density Polyethylene (HDPE), and Linear Low-density Polyethylene (LLDPE)), By Capacity (Sheets, Bags, and Mailers), By End-use (Manufacturing & Warehousing, Pharmaceuticals, Electronics & Electricals, Automotive, Food & Beverages, Personal Care & Cosmetics, E-commerce, and Logistics & Transportation), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

A bubble wrap is a transparent plastic material comprising air-filled bubbles made with polyethylene film. The two-layered polyethylene film, with air entrapped inside to form bubbles, tends to be in overall protection, gaining huge demand from end-use industries. The increasing popularity of e-commerce and the need for cushioning goods are the major factors propelling the market growth. In addition, the rising trend of outsourcing production to countries with low labor costs and using bubble wrap in construction, automotive, personal care, and many other end-use industries to deliver products safely contributes to market growth.

• For instance, in July 2022, Sealed Air, the company that invented the iconic bubble wrap brand cushioning, declared the launch of a bubble wrap brand paper bubble mailer. It is a fiber-based padded mailer that can be easily recycled in curbside bins.

The increase in online shopping worldwide and the growing logistics and transportation industry are  significant factors driving the market growth. The continuous innovations and advancements in bubble wrap by manufacturers and the rising concerns among e-commerce players towards product safety contribute to market growth. Furthermore, the surge in mergers and acquisitions to meet the growing demands and the rise in awareness regarding online shopping benefits such as easier return policies, faster deliveries, and free shipping also drives the market growth.

The major factor that restrains the market growth is the availability of cost-effective and eco-friendly substitutes such as foam packaging and recycled paper. Moroever, the rising environmental concerns among manufacturers and consumers are also projected to hamper the market growth. In addition, the highly flammable nature and the non-disposable characteristic of plastic, which affects the environment, limit the bubble wrap market.

The outbreak of COVID-19 harmed many end-use industries worldwide. The pandemic affected the global bubble wrap market due to the prolonged shutdown of end-user industries such as manufacturing & warehousing, personal care & cosmetics, and others. The upsurge in the growth of e-commerce also boosted the logistics and transportation sector, thus uplifting the bubble wrap market in the post-pandemic period.

SEGMENTATION

KEY INSIGHTS

The report covers the following key insights:

• Recent Advancements in the Global Bubble Wrap Market


• Key Industry Trends


• Regulatory Landscape for the Global Bubble Wrap Market


• Key Industry Developments (Mergers, Acquisitions, and Partnerships)


• Impact of COVID-19 on the Global Bubble Wrap Market

ANALYSIS BY MATERIAL

Based on material, the market is segmented into low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, and linear low-density polyethylene. The high-density polyethylene segment dominates the market and is anticipated to witness a significant growth rate over the forthcoming years. The dominance can be attributed to the recycling features and the rising material demand among manufacturers due to desirable properties.

ANALYSIS BY PRODUCT TYPE

Based on product type, the market is segmented into sheets, bags, and mailers.

The sheets segment dominates the global bubble wrap market. Bubble sheets are comparatively low in cost and are suitable for wrapping various items, such as electronic devices and breakable items, during transportation.

ANALYSIS BY END-USE INDUSTRY

Based on end-use industry, the market is segmented into manufacturing & warehousing, pharmaceuticals, electronics & electricals, automotive, food & beverages, personal care & cosmetics, e-commerce, and logistics & transportation.

The logistics & transportation segment dominates the bubble wrap market. The massive increase is due to the increasing consumer demand for product safety during transportation.

REGIONAL ANALYSIS

The bubble wrap market has been studied across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.

Asia Pacific is the dominating segment of the global bubble wrap market. The dominance can be considered due to the rising demand for bubble wraps in India and China around several end-use industries. The growing e-commerce sector also contributes to regional growth.

North America is anticipated to experience the fastest growth owing to the presence of suppliers and consumers of automobiles in the region. An increase in online shopping and the well-established logistics sector drive the development of the European bubble wrap market.

Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are projected to experience steady growth owing to the increasing usage of bubble wrap to protect from damage during transportation.

KEY PLAYERS COVERED

The report includes the profiles of key players such as Veritiv Corporation, Sealed Air Corporation, Jiffy Packaging Co., Pregis Corporation, Smurfit Kappa, Barton Jones Packaging Ltd., IVEX Protective Packaging Inc., Automated Packaging System, Intertape Polymer Group Inc., and Nefab AB.

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

• In November 2022, Cortec Corporation introduced EcoSonic ESD self-seal bubble bags powered by Nano-VpCI. The bags combine vapor phase corrosion inhibitors with self-seal cushioning bubble bags and ESD protection, to safeguard sensitive electronics from three major threats: triboelectric charge generation, corrosion, and physical damage.


• In September 2022, Sealed Air declared the launch of three new and recycled content inflatable films. This new inflatable utilizes 30% or 50% recycled plastic waste, intending to support companies in fulfilling a growing demand for environmentally responsible packaging.


• In May 2019, Sealed Air Corporation, the inventor of bubble wraps and other packaging materials, announced the acquisition of the global leader in designing and manufacturing packaging materials, Automated Packaging Systems. The acquisition would help assist the former in the design and development of sustainable packaging solutions.