Packaging system and method

A method of packaging an article comprising:

• a. forming an inner pouch around the article by wrapping material of a web around the article and forming a back seal from edges of the web;
• b. forming an outer tube around the pouch by wrapping a film around the pouch and forming a back seal from edges of the film;
• c. gas-inflating the annular region outside of the inner pouch and within the outer tube;
• and
• d. forming respective transverse seals on opposite longitudinal ends of both the pouch and the tube so as to (i) seal and encapsulate the article within the pouch and (ii) transform the outer tube into a gas-inflated bag around the article-containing pouch, the transverse seal formed in the outer tube serving to secure the inner pouch to the outer bag,
• wherein the method is performed such that
• (A) the pouch is tensioned by the pressure within the outer bag to suspend the article-containing pouch within the gas-inflated outer bag and to maintain a space between the article-containing pouch and the outer bag on all sides of the article;
• and
• (B) the back seal closing the inner pouch is laterally offset from the back seal closing the outer bag.