Bubblewrap is a commonly used packing material, popular because it is versatile, lightweight and easy to use. A lot of people love popping the bubbles, too – although this will make it less useful as a packing material.

Why choose bubblewrap?

Bubblewrap is really good as a shock absorber – the bubbles will protect fragile items if they are dropped or struck. It can also be used to protect everything from electricals to glassware. Bubblewrap is lightweight, so your moving boxes will be easy to handle. Bubblewrap is also dust-free, and waterproof.

Bubble wrap is not the cheapest of packing materials, so it’s best saved for the items that really need it. There’s no need to bubblewrap items like duvets or pillows, as they won’t break when dropped! The items that really do need the protection of bubblewrap include:

• glassware
• ceramics
• electronics
• mirrors and picture frames

Basically, anything fragile or brittle will benefit from being swathed in bubblewrap, as will items at risk from scratches and scuffs.

Bubblewrap is a very stable packing material – even if you’re expecting to keep your goods in storage for a few years, they will be safe in bubblewrap.

Using bubblewrap as a packing material

Use scissors to cut your bubblewrap to fit the item you are packing. You can fasten it with tape, or an elastic band. If the item is then going in a box, you could leave the bubblewrap unfastened to speed unpacking. Glasses and ceramic mugs will benefit from a piece of bubble wrap tucked inside, and they may need extra wrapping around the stem.

Alternatives to bubblewrap

As a soft plastic, bubblewrap is not great for the environment particularly when used just the once. If you prefer to avoid using single-use plastics, there are some alternatives to bubblewrap. Glasses can be packed into cardboard boxes with inserts. Ceramics could be padded with packing paper or newsprint, although this is slightly less effective than bubblewrap. Larger items could be wrapped in moving blankets, or placed in specialised boxes.

How can I cut the cost of packing materials?

The price of bubblewrap varies – you should get a better deal if you buy it in bulk.

You may be able to get free bubblewrap by saving packaging from deliveries. You can also ask around on neighbourhood swap sites like Freegle to see if anyone has any bubblewrap or other packing material they are keen to get rid of.

We have a blogpost about saving money on packing materials with some other tips about reducing the cost of packing your domestic goods for self-storage or for a house move.

How do I dispose of bubblewrap?

If you don’t dispose of bubblewrap in a responsible way, it can disintegrate into microplastics that will still be around thousands of years into the future.

If you can, arrange for your bubblewrap to be re-used by advertising it on a neighbourhood site, or offering it to friends who are moving house or sending a lot of parcels. But if your bubblewrap has gone a bit flat then it can be recycled as a soft plastic. Supermarkets may take it with plastic bags.

Learn more about recycling bubblewrap in the UK from Rubbish Site.

Protecting your goods in storage

Great packing is the first step to keeping your stored domestic items safe. But self-storage insurance is another way to maintain your peace of mind. Get a quote from Store and Insure to check that you aren’t overpaying for self-storage insurance.