Sealed Air teams up with students to pop their way to a Guinness World Records title

Sealed Air Corporation, the makers of Bubble Wrap brand cushioning, and 366 students from Hawthorne High School joined forces to set an official Guinness World Records title to celebrate the 13th Annual Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day. Held on the last Monday of January, the day sees millions around the globe honor the creation of Bubble Wrap brand cushioning, invented more than 50 years ago.

The pop icon and the New Jersey high school set the record for “The Most People Popping Bubble Wrap at One Time,” with 366 students popping more than 8,000 square feet of the packaging material at an event of epic bubble-popping proportions on Monday morning in the town of Bubble Wrap’s birthplace, Hawthorne, N.J.

“Celebrating Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day where it all began in Hawthorne with a brand new Guinness World Record has made this holiday extra special this year,” said Rohn Shellenberger, business manager at Sealed Air. “We are proud to commemorate the day with Hawthorne High School and all of the Bubble Wrap cushioning fans around the world.”

Rolls of Bubble Wrap cushioning filled the gym at Hawthorne High School as hundreds of students were given two minutes using their hands and feet to pop as much of this iconic packaging material as possible.

“You could really feel the excitement in the gym as the participants prepared to set this world record,” said Kimberly Partrick, an official Guinness World Record Adjudicator. “We applaud Sealed Air and Hawthorne High School for their hard work and enthusiasm for Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day, and their reward is setting a brand new Guinness World Records achievement.”

Bubble Wrap cushioning was invented in Hawthorne, N.J., in 1960 by inventors Marc Chavannes and Al Fielding and is considered a pop culture phenomenon with more than 2 million fans on Facebook and millions more around the globe.

The students, faculty and staff at Hawthorne High School raised funds for Sandy Hook Elementary School during the event.