Ethan Clarke
The invention of plastic airtight containers is considered one of the most notable advances in the history of plastic packaging. The story of plastic airtight containers, commonly known as Tupperware, began in the post-Great Depression era with an American businessman and inventor, Earl Silas Tupper. Tupper's creation of lightweight, non-breakable containers revolutionised food storage, offering a new alternative to tin foil for short and long-term food preservation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Inventor of plastic airtight containers | Earl Silas Tupper |
| Birth and death | July 28, 1907 – October 3, 1983 |
| Occupation | American businessman and inventor |
| Known for | Tupperware, an airtight plastic container for storing food |
| Education | Studied at Bryant College (now Bryant University) in Providence, Rhode Island |
| Work | Landscaping and nursery business, DuPont chemical company, co-founded 'Sterilite' |
| Tupperware invention | Purified and molded polyethylene slag to create lightweight, non-breakable containers |
| Tupperware marketing | Started in 1946, promoted through housewives who used Tupperware sales as a source of income |
| Tupperware products | Cigarette cases, tumblers, containers for leftovers, bowls |
| Tupperware impact | Revolutionized food storage, preparation, and serving; reduced food waste, empowered female entrepreneurship |
| Tupperware in popular culture | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Minions: The Rise of Gru, Lessons in Chemistry, Julia |
| Tupperware environmental impact | Diverted nearly 11 million single-use plastic bottles from landfills annually |
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What You'll Learn
Earl Silas Tupper invented plastic airtight containers in 1946
In 1946, Earl Silas Tupper invented plastic airtight containers, revolutionising food storage and the way the world stores, serves, and prepares food. Tupper was an American businessman, chemist, and inventor, born on a farm in Berlin, New Hampshire, in 1907. The Tupper family moved from Berlin when he was three years old, and Tupper spent the rest of his youth growing up on different farms in central Massachusetts.
After studying at Bryant College (now Bryant University) in Providence, Rhode Island, Tupper started a landscaping and nursery business. However, the Great Depression forced the business into bankruptcy. Tupper then secured a job with the DuPont chemical company, where he gained experience in plastics.
Using black, inflexible pieces of polyethylene slag, a waste product of the oil refining process, Tupper purified the slag and moulded it to create lightweight, non-breakable containers. He developed an airtight and watertight seal, modelled on those of paint cans, creating a new alternative to tin foil for short- or long-term food storage.
By 1946, Tupper was marketing his home products, which included containers for leftovers, cigarette cases, and tumblers for the bathroom. Despite initial challenges in gaining public acceptance, Tupper's invention of plastic airtight containers is considered one of the most notable advances in the history of plastic packaging.
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Tupper's plastic was made from DuPont's polyethylene slag
The invention of Tupperware is attributed to American businessman and inventor Earl Silas Tupper. Tupper, born in 1907, founded the Tupperware Plastics Company in 1942 and introduced his products to the public in 1946. Tupper's inspiration for his signature airtight containers came from paint cans. He aimed to create a similar airtight seal for plastic storage containers, which would help families save money by reducing food waste.
Tupper's containers were made from polyethylene, a lightweight, flexible, and durable plastic. During World War II, polyethylene was diverted for military manufacturing. After the war, Tupper obtained polyethylene plastic from his former employer, DuPont, and set out to create his revolutionary product. Tupper used black, inflexible pieces of polyethylene slag, a waste product of the oil refining process, which he purified and molded into containers, cups, bowls, plates, and more.
Tupper's first plastic container, the Wonderlier Bowl, featured a nonsnap lid that created an airtight seal. This product became the cornerstone of the Tupperware line of plastic kitchenware. The Wonderlier Bowl was patented in 1947 and was soon followed by other polyethylene products, including a pitcher, creamer, tumblers, and popsicle molds.
Tupper's products gained popularity in the early 1950s, with sales increasing and the iconic Tupperware parties taking off. These parties, hosted by legendary saleswoman Brownie Wise, showcased the unique features of Tupperware, such as its ability to prevent spills. Tupperware's innovative design, functionality, and durability have contributed to its lasting success, with annual sales exceeding $2 billion.
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Tupper founded Tupperware Plastics Company
Earl Silas Tupper, born on July 28, 1907, in Berlin, New Hampshire, was an American businessman and inventor. Tupper grew up on farms in central Massachusetts and later studied at Bryant College (now Bryant University) in Providence, Rhode Island. He founded the Tupperware Plastics Company in 1938 and developed his first bell-shaped container in 1942, introducing the products to the public in 1946.
Tupper's inspiration for airtight plastic containers came from his time working at the DuPont chemical company. Using black, inflexible pieces of polyethylene slag, a waste product of the oil refining process, Tupper purified the slag and molded it to create lightweight, non-breakable containers, cups, bowls, and plates. These containers revolutionized food storage, offering a solution to food waste and helping families save money.
Tupperware gained popularity in the early 1950s, with the company hosting Tupperware parties and rewarding top-selling women. In 1948, the company introduced Tupper Plastics to hardware and department stores. Around 1946, Tupper joined forces with Brownie Wise, who had achieved remarkable success selling Tupperware through home parties. This marked the beginning of "party plan" marketing, and Tupperware was soon withdrawn from sale in retail stores.
In 1951, Tupper and his wife moved the company's headquarters to Kissimmee, Florida, where they purchased 1,000 acres of land. Tupper sold The Tupperware Company for $16 million to Rexall in 1958 and 1969, he donated 428 acres of land in Smithfield, Rhode Island, to his alma mater, Bryant College. Tupperware continued to expand globally, entering Europe in 1960 and establishing a presence in six European countries by 1965.
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Tupperware revolutionised food storage, preparation and serving
Tupperware is an American company that manufactures and distributes preparation, storage, and serving containers for the kitchen and home. It was founded in 1942 by Earl Silas Tupper, an American businessman and inventor, who is best known for his invention of Tupperware. Tupperware revolutionised food storage, preparation, and serving, and its impact is still felt today.
Tupper was born in 1907 and grew up on farms in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. After studying at Bryant College, he started a landscaping and nursery business, but the Great Depression forced it into bankruptcy. He then worked for the DuPont chemical company, where he had access to polyethylene, a waste product of the oil refining process. Tupper purified the polyethylene and moulded it to create lightweight, non-breakable containers.
In 1946, Tupper introduced his first bell-shaped plastic container to the public. These containers could be used in households to store food and keep it airtight, revolutionising the way families stored, served, and prepared food. The product became notable for its "burping seal", which was patented in 1949. Tupperware's direct marketing strategy, known as the "party plan", also empowered female entrepreneurship in the 1950s, allowing women to earn an income while remaining in the domestic domain.
Tupperware's innovative containers helped to reduce food waste, save time and money, and improve food hygiene and accessibility. The brand has since expanded its product range and global reach, with sales in over 70 countries. Tupperware has also been featured in popular culture, including TV shows and films. The company has also demonstrated a commitment to sustainability, diverting millions of single-use plastic bottles from landfills and using certified circular polymers.
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Tupperware is still relevant today, empowering female entrepreneurs
Tupperware, the brand of plastic airtight containers, was invented by Earl Silas Tupper in 1946. Tupper was an American businessman and inventor who founded the Tupperware Plastics Company. Tupperware revolutionised the way the world stores, serves and prepares food, creating the food storage category we know today.
Despite the company's recent bankruptcy announcement, Tupperware remains relevant today, empowering female entrepreneurs around the world. Tupperware's unique sales approach, introduced in the 1950s, involved "Tupperware parties", where housewives hosted gatherings for friends and acquaintances to sell products. This model allowed women to gain autonomy by becoming consultants, managers and distributors of the product, empowering thousands of homemakers to become businesswomen.
Tupperware CEO Rick Goings attributes the company's success to its focus on recruiting, educating and empowering women to start businesses selling Tupperware. The company leverages a growing female salesforce of 2.6 million women in regions like China, India, Indonesia, Latin America and South Africa. Tupperware provides women with microfinancing, training and mentorship, helping them to gain confidence and influence in their families and communities.
In addition to its impact on female empowerment, Tupperware has also made strides in sustainability. The company was one of the first to use certified circular polymers, diverting nearly 11 million single-use plastic bottles from landfills annually. Tupperware's products are ever-present in pop culture, with appearances in shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Minions: The Rise of Gru.
Tupperware continues to innovate and adapt to the needs of its customers, with a focus on bringing people together and creating a positive impact on communities and the planet.
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Frequently asked questions
The American businessman and inventor Earl Silas Tupper invented Tupperware, an airtight plastic container for storing food.
Tupper was working at the DuPont chemical company when he came up with the idea. Using black, inflexible pieces of polyethylene slag, a waste product of the oil refining process, he purified the slag and molded it to create lightweight, non-breakable containers.
Tupper began marketing his home products in 1946.
Tupper's invention revolutionized the way the world stores, serves, and prepares food. It helped war-weary families save money on costly food waste.
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