Polymers: Cellophane

When DuPont acquired the formula for the polymer cellophane from a French company in 1923, it started a packaging revolution. Cellophane protected products without hiding them, allowing customers to judge the quality of goods within the package without opening it. Cellophane’s popularity and versatility increased with the perfection of a waterproof barrier in 1927 and the development of vibrant, multi-colored decorative techniques not long thereafter.

The success of Cellophane paved the way for the many varieties of bio- and petroleum-based polymer materials that wrap millions of consumer goods today.

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