Saran

Saran is the trade name associated with a family of thin plastic films used primarily to cover and preserve food. Its historical importance comes from polyvinylidene chloride, commonly abbreviated PVDC, a high-barrier material developed at Dow Chemical Company in the United States during the 1930s. PVDC could adhere to itself, resist water vapor, and greatly limit the movement of oxygen, flavor, and aroma molecules. Those characteristics made it unusually effective for protecting food from drying, oxidation, odor transfer, and premature spoilage. The material was discovered in 1933 after Dow researcher Ralph Wiley encountered a difficult-to-clean residue while working on a dry-cleaning-related process. The resulting resin was strong, waterproof, versatile, and capable of being processed into films, fibers, and other forms. Dow initially explored industrial and military applications rather than household food packaging. A flexible film made from the material was used to protect equipment from corrosion during wartime shipping, and fused PVDC layers were also used in ventilating insoles for jungle boots. The material’s resistance to moisture and salt made it valuable in demanding environments. Dow registered the Saran name in 1940. During the early development period, researchers including Wiley and John Reilly worked to eliminate the material’s original green color and unpleasant odor, while Wilbur Stephenson developed a blown-film process that enabled the production of clear, uniform film. After the Second World War, Dow began selling larger quantities of the material to commercial users. In 1947, Dow employees Carroll “Curly” Irons and Russ Ludwig began cutting industrial rolls into consumer-sized lengths and selling them as cling wrap. Dow acquired that venture in 1948 and introduced a retail product under the Saran Wrap name in 1949. Saran Wrap became widely recognized as a refrigerator and food-storage product. Its self-clinging behavior made it convenient for sealing bowls, covering plates, and wrapping individual foods, while its barrier properties distinguished the original PVDC formulation from ordinary polyethylene film. The brand became part of Dow’s broader consumer-products portfolio, and S. C. Johnson & Son acquired Dow’s consumer products, including Saran Wrap, in 1998. In the United States, the formulation changed from PVDC to polyethylene in 2004. The change was linked to cost, manufacturing complexity, and concerns about chlorine-containing or other halogenated materials. Polyethylene is easier to process and contains no chlorine, but its oxygen barrier is significantly weaker under comparable conditions. As a result, the modern U.S. product does not offer exactly the same technical performance as the historical PVDC film. PVDC-containing barrier films may still be used in specialized packaging, including some meat-industry applications where high resistance to oxygen transmission remains important. Saran therefore represents both a consumer brand and a materials-technology legacy. In household use, its identity is tied to cling film and food preservation. In industrial history, it is tied to the commercialization of PVDC and early uses in military equipment protection, footwear components, and high-barrier packaging. The brand remains active under S. C. Johnson & Son, although the composition and performance of products sold under the name can vary by market and product generation.

Saran’s history begins with the development of polyvinylidene chloride at Dow Chemical Company in Michigan. In 1933, researcher Ralph Wiley encountered a persistent, waterproof residue while working on a process connected with perchloroethylene, a dry-cleaning chemical. The unusual material proved strong, versatile, and resistant to moisture. Dow subsequently investigated ways to make it commercially useful. The early material was not immediately suitable for consumer use. It had an undesirable green color and odor, and its processing characteristics required further development. Ralph Wiley and John Reilly completed important formulation and development work by 1943, while Wilbur Stephenson devised a method for controlling the dimensions of an extruded tube and blowing it into a clear, consistently thick film. Dow registered the Saran trademark in 1940. The name was not, according to the historical account, simply derived from the names Sarah and Ann; Dow obtained naming rights associated with an earlier Firestone plastic-seat name. Before becoming a household wrap, the material served industrial and military purposes. A General Motors request helped direct development toward flexible corrosion-protection film for machine guns and other equipment shipped overseas. During the Second World War, fused PVDC layers were also made into woven ventilating insoles for jungle boots. Military testing in tropical environments found that the structure improved airflow and reduced problems associated with moisture, blisters, and tropical foot conditions. The insoles were later incorporated into U.S. Army jungle-boot specifications. After the Vietnam War, the U.S. military moved toward Poron, a microcellular urethane, for comparable boot applications, although PVDC insoles continued to have some use in British military footwear because of their insulating characteristics. Following the war, Dow sold the material in large rolls to commercial customers. In 1947, Dow employees Carroll “Curly” Irons and Russ Ludwig began buying spools and cutting them into narrow consumer-sized lengths. Their side business marketed the material as cling wrap. Charles J. Strosacker persuaded them to sell the venture to Dow in 1948. Dow then introduced a retail version under the Saran Wrap trademark in 1949. The product gained rapid acceptance as a means of covering dishes and wrapping food for refrigerator storage. The original PVDC film was valued for its ability to cling to itself and for its low permeability to water vapor, oxygen, flavors, and aromas. These properties helped food retain moisture and smell while limiting oxidation and spoilage. They also made Saran an important example of how a materials innovation could move from military and industrial applications into everyday household use. In 1998, Dow’s consumer products, including Saran Wrap, were acquired by S. C. Johnson & Son. A major technical and strategic change followed in 2004, when the U.S. formulation was changed from PVDC to polyethylene. The change reflected the cost and processing difficulties of PVDC as well as concerns about chlorine-containing materials. Polyethylene is more readily processed, but its oxygen permeability is much higher than that of PVDC. Consequently, current U.S. household wrap does not duplicate all of the barrier performance associated with the historical formulation. PVDC remains relevant in some specialized packaging applications, including barrier structures used in parts of the meat-packaging industry. The Saran name consequently has two related meanings: a consumer-facing food-wrap brand and a historical material platform based on PVDC. Its legacy includes the popularization of cling film, the development of high-barrier packaging, and the adaptation of a technically demanding polymer for both military and household uses.

• 2004

  U.S. consumer formulation changed to polyethylene

  [1]Saran (plastic)en.wikipedia.org

  The U.S. product moved from PVDC to polyethylene, changing its barrier characteristics and material profile.

• 1998

  S. C. Johnson acquired the consumer-products business

  [1]Saran (plastic)en.wikipedia.org

  Saran Wrap became part of S. C. Johnson & Son following its acquisition of Dow consumer products.

• 1949

  Saran Wrap entered retail markets

  [1]Saran (plastic)en.wikipedia.org

  Dow marketed Saran Wrap as a thin, self-clinging food-storage film.

• 1948

  Dow acquired the employee cling-wrap venture

  [1]Saran (plastic)en.wikipedia.org

  The informal consumer-wrap operation was sold to Dow, enabling the company to develop a retail product.

• 1947

  Consumer-sized cling wrap venture began

  [1]Saran (plastic)en.wikipedia.org

  Dow employees Carroll Irons and Russ Ludwig began cutting industrial film into retail-sized lengths.

• 1943

  Development work prepared PVDC for introduction

  [1]Saran (plastic)en.wikipedia.org

  Ralph Wiley and John Reilly completed key development work, including improvements to color and odor.

• 1942

  PVDC ventilating insoles used in jungle-boot development

  [1]Saran (plastic)en.wikipedia.org

  Fused PVDC layers were formed into ventilating insoles tested for tropical military footwear.

• 1940

  Dow registered the Saran name

  [1]Saran (plastic)en.wikipedia.org

  Dow registered Saran as the trade name for the material, although broad consumer commercialization came later.

• 1933

  PVDC-related material discovered at Dow

  [1]Saran (plastic)en.wikipedia.org

  Ralph Wiley encountered the unusual waterproof and strongly adherent material during work at Dow Chemical Company.

Food-preservation and household storage brand associated with clingable plastic film, convenient sealing, and protection against moisture, odors, and air. Its historical differentiation rested on PVDC’s exceptionally strong barrier performance; in the United States, the principal consumer formulation changed to polyethylene in 2004.

• Household food wrap · 1949

  Saran Wrap

  Saran Wrap is the best-known consumer product associated with the Saran name. It is a thin, flexible film intended to cover containers and wrap food for storage. The historical product used PVDC, whose self-clinging behavior and very low permeability to oxygen, water vapor, flavors, and aromas supported food preservation. In the United States, the formulation changed to polyethylene in 2004, making the current product materially different from the original PVDC-based wrap.

• High-barrier packaging film

  Saran PVDC film

  PVDC film is the historical materials platform behind Saran’s reputation for strong barrier performance. It limits the passage of oxygen, water vapor, flavors, and aromas more effectively than ordinary polyethylene film under comparable conditions. Although the U.S. household formulation changed in 2004, PVDC-containing films remain relevant to specialized packaging structures where oxygen and moisture protection are particularly important.

• Military footwear component · 1942

  PVDC military ventilating insoles

  During and after the Second World War, fused PVDC layers were used to make woven ventilating insoles for jungle and tropical combat boots. The structure was intended to improve airflow and reduce moisture-related foot problems in hot, wet environments. This was an early military application of the material before Saran became primarily associated with household food wrap.

• 2004

  Replacement of PVDC with polyethylene in the U.S.Strategy

  Background

  PVDC offered strong oxygen and moisture barriers but was more difficult and costly to process, and chlorine-containing materials raised environmental and health concerns.

  Action taken

  The U.S. Saran Wrap formulation was changed from polyvinylidene chloride to polyethylene.

  Aftermath

  The product retained its household food-wrap role but had substantially higher oxygen permeability than the historical PVDC formulation.

  Source

• 1998

  Transfer of Saran Wrap to S. C. JohnsonM&A

  Background

  Dow’s consumer-products portfolio included Saran Wrap and related household brands.

  Action taken

  S. C. Johnson & Son acquired Dow’s consumer products, bringing Saran Wrap under new ownership.

  Aftermath

  Saran became part of S. C. Johnson’s household-products portfolio.

  Source

1. 1Saran (plastic)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Saran Brands official websitesaranbrands.com