What is packing tape made from?

A Guide to Packaging Tape

Whether you want to speed up your packing times, use less materials or become more sustainable, the packing tape you use can be the catalyst for lots of these improvements. And as a business owner, the types of packaging materials you choose, will have an impact on customer perception. If you would like to learn more about packing tape, check out our full guide here!

What is packing tape made from?

Generally, packing tape is composed of 2 to 3 main parts. Here’s a short explanation of each:

The backing or carrier – this the material it’s made from. In the case of packing tape, the backing is often made from polypropylene, vinyl or kraft paper.  Other more technical tapes might have a backing or carrier made from other materials such as crepe paper or even cloth.

The adhesive – this is the stuff that makes packaging tape stick.  There are several different adhesives including acrylic and solvents!

The liner – when it comes to packing tape, a liner is sometimes used on some pressure sensitive tapes or double-sided tapes. It stops layers of the backing material from sticking together.

What types of material are used to make packing tape?

Packing tape can be made from lots of different materials. Here are some of the most common types of materials used to make the carrier in your packing tape:

Polypropylene tape – polypropylene tape (also referred to as polypro tape) is the most common type of packing tape you’ll come across. It’s made from polypropylene plastic, which is a cost-effective base material.  It’s strong and reasonably robust and is widely available in clear and buff colors. This kind of tape is a good, basic all-rounder for domestic, office and general transit packaging requirements.

PVC tape – if you want a premium packing tape PVC is the material you need. Made from polyvinyl chloride film this kind of tape is stronger and resistant to a wider range of temperatures. This kind of tape is often referred to as vinyl tape or even premium packing tape.

Paper tape – a great alternative to plastic tape, paper tape is recyclable and biodegradable. You’ll find paper tape available as self-adhesive tape or gummed paper tape. Self-adhesive paper tape operates like regular plastic packing tape, it comes on a roll and can operated the same way on a tape gun or taping machine. In contrast, gummed paper tape, is lined with a water activated adhesive. It requires moistening before being applied to a cardboard box for sealing, the adhesive forms a tamper evident bond. Both types of paper tape are strong. For many businesses, swapping to paper tape is an easy way to remove plastic from supply chains and control the amount of packaging material used, as you can often use less paper tape vs. plastic tape.

Need help on getting the right tape for your specific application: PH 813 242 6995 or sales@quickpakinc.com