Why businesses should switch to paper tape

Owning a small business can be tough - ensuring that your brand is presented in professional way is crucial, and packaging of your goods plays a key role. This is particularly important for e-commerce brands, where packaging can be the very first physical impression your customers will have with your brand.

We’ve all struggled with plastic packing tape and the hot, sticky mess it can make. The good news is that are now more options available, and water-activated paper packing tape is fast becoming a popular alternative.

What is paper packing tape?

Paper packing tape is, in essence, exactly that: packaging tape that is made of paper. Unlike plastic packing tape, paper tape has a vegetable-based adhesive on one side, that only becomes sticky once it’s activated with water. It’s strong, durable, and can be used on both lightweight packages and heavier boxes. Water-activated paper tape is a great alternative to plastic tape for a variety of reasons: here’s why your business should make the switch.

1. It’s kinder to the environment

First and foremost - paper tape has far less impact on the environment because it’s made up of natural materials. It can be recycled with the box, so if your customer can put both the box and tape into their kerbside recycling bin, without having to remove the tape. Using paper tape will save your customers time and effort, as well as keep plastic out of landfill. Paper tape will break down along with the box, making it a kinder environmental choice than plastic tape.

2. It’s cost efficient

Water-activated paper tape forms a permanent bond with the cardboard box, which means it can do in one strip what it takes several strips for plastic tape to do. It’s also simpler for your customers to open up the package than a box covered in layers of plastic. Because water-activated paper tape is stronger, it also means less tape is required, and therefore reduces your cost per box.

3. It can be customized

Paper tape can be customized for your business. Add your logo, text, graphics or any design you like! In this way, it has a secondary purpose of a communicating to your customers. You can choose to have some fun with a quirky design, communicate information about your products or business or simply add your brand to an otherwise plain parcel. Custom paper tape is efficient AND aesthetically pleasing.

4. It’s secure

Water-activated paper tape is more secure than plastic, which can be easily removed or tampered with. Paper tape is much more difficult [or impossible] to remove without leaving behind very obvious signs it’s been tampered with tampering. This is due to the way that paper tape forms a bond to the carton once the adhesive is activated. So, theft or tampering of the parcel isn’t possible.

5. It can withstand extreme temperatures

Some packing tapes, if exposed to extreme heat, cold or moisture, are likely to be impacted and therefore pose a risk to your parcels. Paper tape can withstand temperature changes far better than plastic tape, including in the freezer and in hot weather conditions. This means your tape is going to stay in place, even when the temperature changes as it makes its way to your customer.