Shelf Life of Bubble Wrap

Regular Bubble Wrap

• According to Anna Turner, a representative of DavPack, a supplier of Bubble Wrap packaging in the United Kingdom, the shelf life of regular Bubble Wrap is two months. After that the material can begin to lose some of its cushioning ability. Depending on how the wrap is stored it can last for less or more time than this.

Enviro-Bubble Wrap

• Biodegradable bubble wrap, sold under the name Enviro-Bubble, is made with additives that cause the wrap to break down rapidly in landfills. The manufacturer can adjust the additives to allow for different storage conditions — heat and humidity, for example — to lengthen or shorten the expected shelf life of the wrap.

What Shortens Shelf Life

• Plastic breaks down when exposed to heat and light. If you store Bubble Wrap in a very hot warehouse or on open shelves under bright fluorescent lights, you can hasten this breakdown. As the plastic deteriorates, tiny holes can form that release the air in the bubbles. Flat Bubble Wrap can't do its job and becomes useless.

Storing Bubble Wrap

• To prolong the shelf life of your Bubble Wrap, store it in a cool, dry place, out of direct light. You can still use Bubble Wrap that's more than two months old, but it may not perform as well, or provide quite as much cushioning, as fresh Bubble Wrap. If necessary, use more than one layer of Bubble Wrap for extra cushioning.