Watching How Bubble Wrap Is Made Is Almost as Addictive as Popping It

Popping Bubble Wrap after it has served its protective packaging purpose might be satisfying, but just how is the trapped air product made?

The whole process starts with resin pellets that are vacuumed into an extruder, which is extremely hot and melts the resin, a video from the company Sealed Air Corporation, which makes branded Bubble Wrap, explained. Once the resin is made into a film, it's put on rollers.

From there, the film is vacuumed down and the air is trapped. Finally, the film goes through other rollers and cools, forming a bond so that the product has a flat backing with a bubbled topping.

Image source: YouTube

Image source: YouTube

Watch the video:

It is unclear when exactly Sealed Air posted this video, but it has been getting some viral play on the Web recently.

For some, timing doesn't matter. As Ralph Gardner for the Wall Street Journal put it in an article a few months ago, Bubble Wrap is "always newsworthy. There's something miraculous about it."

What's the draw?

"It's about the friendliest product to come down the pike in a long time. Right up there with string cheese and the iPod," Gardner wrote.

Image source: YouTube

But Bubble Wrap isn't the only packing material that packs a pop. Gaining popularity in the packing world are air-filled bags. Here's how those space fillers are made:

(H/T: Reddit)