In 1908, Jacques Brandenberger was trying to save a tablecloth when he created something much bigger

Jacques Brandenberger from Switzerland was in 1908 attempting to tackle a domestic issue related to the protection of tablecloths against liquids and staining, according to reports published by Encyclopedia Britannica. While the initial task might have seemed rather petty, the experiment led to an industrial invention which later came to be called cellophane; supposedly the first transparent packaging film in the world.

It was not only the substance itself that was innovative about the invention, but also the transparency it brought to the whole packaging industry. For example, up until the invention of cellophane, the main purpose of packaging was protection. With the emergence of transparent packaging film, customers could start seeing products right through the wrapper. This way, as reported by Harvard Business School Working Knowledge, cellophane became the first transparent packaging film and completely revolutionized food product displays at the time.

Transparent packaging transformed how people bought food

The significance of cellophane increased rapidly with the commercial significance of visibility itself. After it became possible to wrap goods in such a way that they were still visible through the packaging, packaging became not just a form of protection but also a way of selling. As mentioned in the overview by Harvard Business School, moisture-resistant cellophane contributed to increased sales of packaged foodstuffs such as cakes and cheese since buyers had the chance to inspect what they bought visually before buying it. It might sound rather obvious today, but back then it was revolutionary since packaging was no longer concealing goods fully.


Moreover, according to research published in Harvard DASH, with the increase in the number of retail environments featuring self-service, the role of visual inspection grew even greater. It made consumers more interested in seeing the contents of packages rather than buying them without inspecting at all. In other words, cellophane changed consumer habits along with changing packaging technology. It solved two problems at once: protecting goods and allowing people to see them.

Cellophane became the foundation for modern flexible packaging

The impact of cellophane was extended by its contribution to an industrial idea that was further built upon by other packaging technologies in the years following. As stated in ScienceDirect - The Science and Technology of Flexible Packaging, “Cellophane can be considered as one of the key materials in the history of modern flexible packaging.” This material was developed at a time when there were a lot of activities involving research on various forms of cellulose and early plastics. Historical research indexed in PubMed indicates cellophane as part of the wave of cellulose material development.

This scientific background is important because it demonstrates that Brandenberger's invention occurred within a specific scientific environment that created the prerequisites for turning new cellulose-based inventions into industrial innovations, if the latter proved their practical worth. Nevertheless, it is worth remembering the story of the tablecloth since it brings human dimensions to the invention. Indeed, an accidental spill, attempts at saving the piece of clothing, and experiments with cellulose eventually resulted in a breakthrough which would transform food packaging and display all over the globe. It is important to note the impact of cellophane since its invention led to the incorporation of clear packaging into people's daily lives in such a way. Thus, the problem was initially minor; the results – not really.