Plastic vs Paper: Pick The Right Packing Tape for Your ...

One of the most fundamental requirements of the packaging industry is “packing tape”. Packing tape is used to seal, wrap, or bundle items during storage, handling, or shipment. There are various types of packing tapes available. And, they differ in material, strength, thickness, width, and so on. With several options out there, it can be tough to decide on the right tape for your business needs. 

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Here is a quick, 9-minute guide that’ll help you understand different packing tapes— their properties and applications— so that you can pick the perfect tape for the job.

Different Types of Packaging Tape Explored

Packing tapes come in all shapes and sizes. But even paper and plastic tapes can be divided based on their application. To give you a crash course, the below video briefs you on widely used tapes ideal for any industry. Their applications range from security packaging to brand identification. 

Tapes are also differentiated based on the specific materials used and adhesives. Here’s a list of popular tapes used across businesses.  

#1— Box Tape or BOPP Packing Tape

• Properties: Common, inexpensive, customizable (print, color, thickness, width)

• Construction: PSAs (Pressure-sensitive adhesives), Polymer
• Application: Across all industries, for poly mailers, carton sealing

The most common type of tape, box tapes or bi-axially polypropylene tapes, are medium-strength tapes used for a variety of applications but usually to seal corrugated boxes. These tapes transparent, brown in color, or can be easily customized with patterns or branding. 

Since the tapes don’t need the application of water to be activated, they can be used anywhere.

#2— Lightweight Packing Tape

• Properties: Inexpensive, durable
• Construction: Paper, Polyester
• Application: For lightweight packages

Polyester plastic tapes or paper tapes are great to seal and enclose low-weight packages— of less than 15kgs. It typically has a pressure-sensitive adhesive and is simple to handle and dispense. 

#3— Heavy-Duty Packing Tape

• Properties: Strong, durable, scuff-resistance, insulation
• Construction: PVC, Reinforced paper, Heat/water activated
• Application: For heavy packages, electrical insulation

Heavy-duty tapes are used for boxes weighing 20 to 30 kilograms. Usually, PVC tapes are used for this purpose but paper tapes reinforced with fiberglass can also be used. Such tapes offer electrical and chemical insulation and can often be used for electronic packaging.

#4— Tamper-Evident Tape

• Properties: Tamper detection, tough-bond or intentionally weak to detect tampering
• Construction: Paper, Polypropylene, PSA
• Application: For high-security shipments, retail packaging, food, pharma industry

Image Courtesy: hindi.printablesecuritylabels.com

Security packaging tape or tamper-evident tapes are used to detect package tampering. They can be used to maintain the authenticity of box contents, prevent adulteration, or indicated a breach. Such tapes are difficult to tear away or leave behind printed text when peeled.

#5— Scotch Tape

• Properties: Transparent, writeable, easy-to-use
• Construction: Plastic, PSA
• Applications: Quite common; used for arts, craft, gift-wrapping, home, offices.

Scotch tapes are extremely common. They stick to packages easily and are especially used to stick paper. They are water-resistant and bear a low-price tag, and are quite portable too.

#6— Gummed Packing Tape

• Properties: Tamper-resistance, weather-proof, customized printing, fragile
• Construction: Paper, Water-activated adhesive
• Applications: Theft-avoidance, tamper-evident, envelope sealing; food, health care, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, electronics, jewelry, security industries

Courtesy: cn.all.biz

Gummed packing tapes are paper tapes often referred to as the Kraft tape. They are used for both light-weight and heavy-weight cartons (with reinforcement). Unlike plastic tapes, gummed packing tapes come in different grades based on box weight. And, they are slightly more expensive and wider as compared to plastic tapes.

However, gummed tapes are ideal when security is of high concern. They can’t be peeled away easily and leave behind evidence to indicate tampering. They also provide a sustainable solution to packaging. 

Another advantage of gummed tape is that they can be applied easily without pressure, making them suitable for fragile boxes.

Read: Everything About Gummed Paper Tapes

#7— Double-Sided Tape

• Properties: Sticky on both sides, customizable (thickness, width, length)
• Construction: Paper, Foam
• Applications: Multipurpose, bonding, mounting, fashion

Double-sided tape is coated with pressure-sensitive adhesive on both sides. It is designed to stick to both surfaces and especially work well with paper, wood, or plastic. When it comes to construction they make for neater solutions than glue.

#8— Masking Tape

• Properties: Easy-to-remove, flexible, heat-resistant
• Construction: Paper
• Applications: For paint jobs

Masking tapes are used to protect surfaces when painting. The part covered by the tape prevents the paint from being applied. Specialty masking tape can resist direct sunlight and withstand high temperatures. 

Image Courtesy: Industry Plaza

#9— Duct Tape

• Properties: Flexible, extremely sticky/tacky, heat resistance, can be torn by hand
• Construction: Polyethylene, PSA
• Applications: Across industries, especially packers-and-moves and HVAC

Duct tapes come in handy when packing corrugated boxes for shipment. They are often used by the Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning industry.

Image Courtesy: Sarnika

#10— Strapping Tape

• Properties: High tensile-strength, clean removal, abrasion-resistance
• Construction: Polypropylene, Polyester, PSA
• Applications: Reinforcing packages, bundling products, pallet/load unitizing; electronic, appliances, automotive, manufacturing industries 

Image Courtesy: Exporters India

Filament tape or strapping tape has the capability to withhold several hundred pounds of pressure. They have high-strength and are often used to bundle items or reinforce packages.

Customizing Packaging Tapes

Packing tapes can be customized for length, width, thickness, and can even be printed upon. The print could be to add some information about the contents of the box or handling— for example, a tape that says “fragile” could indicate that the box has to be handled with care— or, could be used for branding— for example, Zomato uses a tape with its logo to seal the contents of a delivery box.

Image Courtesy: xoraprintedtapes.com

When it comes to aesthetics, paper tapes are kraft color or white. They are ideal for brands that have an earthy tone or monochromatic schemes. Poly tapes, on the other hand, are clear and glossy, making them suitable for brands with bold and popping graphics.

Which Packing Tape is Right for Your Business?

When it comes to picking the right packaging tape, you have to take into account several factors— such as the weight and dimensions of the package, the stability of the package contents, security requirements, strength of the box, and shipping methods.

For example, corrugated boxes with light-weight contents might need a regular BOPP tape, heavy packages might need paper tapes, whereas a valuable package might need tamper-evident sealing. When it comes to leading shipping services, Amazon uses paper tapes for packaging, while USPS recommends the use of BOPP tape, reinforced packing tape, or paper tape.

For more clear bopp filminformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

Additional reading:
Shrink Sleeve vs. Traditional Labeling: Which Is Better?

It comes down to your needs and requirements. Picking the most suitable tape for the task can save you a considerable amount of worry. So, invest in the right tape, always!

Need advice on which tape to pick for your goods or products? Write to us or leave your comment below!

Jacques Bopp / Unsplash

There are few things more exciting than purchasing your first home, but for the first-time buyer, there can be a lot of hidden costs. One thing that many people do not think about is the cost of issues that should have been detected during a home inspection. Home inspections are critical during the buying process because they can alert you to serious issues the property may have and save you tons of money down the road.

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While home inspections are generally not required by lenders, they’re strongly recommended. A lender generally requires an appraisal of the property but may not mandate that you have it inspected. A comprehensive home inspection is often enlightening for both the current owner and the potential buyer.

Many issues may be highlighted in the report that neither party knew existed. The best thing is to identify these issues so they can be addressed. If you’re buying a home this year, here are six home inspection issues you should be aware of.

Mold

Mold–one of the most terrifying four-letter words a homeowner can hear. Horror stories plague the internet about what mold can do to your family. Mold exposure has been linked to allergy-like symptoms ranging from mild to severe. It can cause headaches, skin rash, asthma, pneumonitis, and more.

Getting rid of mold isn’t always easy. It usually needs to be handled by a professional. If your home inspector finds mold, you should work with a certified mold remediator to rectify the issue. If you’re working with a real estate agent, they may be able to ask the seller to reduce the price or pay for the remediation. The most important thing for the health and safety of your family is to get it fixed before moving into the home.

Roof Problems

A home inspection report detailing some degree of damage on the roof is standard. According to the Inspection Support Network, 19.7% of inspection reports uncover roofing issues. This can be anything from a leak to insufficient venting.

As with any other issue detailed in the inspection, you can submit a buyer’s request for repairs if there are problems detected with the roof. You may be able to back out of the sale if the seller is unwilling to negotiate a lower price or repair the roof. However, it depends on your contract. Roofing repairs are some of the most expensive, so having a firm understanding of its condition is imperative.

Faulty Wiring

Faulty wiring can be a safety concern for any potential homebuyer. Whether there are ungrounded outlets, or the wiring is exposed, it could lead to serious injury or a house fire. Electrical issues found during a home inspection should be reported to the seller and may be a fair point of negotiation. Ask for wiring to be fixed immediately. Since faulty wiring and other electrical issues pose a health and safety risk, this issue should be remedied.

Plumbing Issues

The last thing a homeowner wants to deal with is plumbing issues. From galvanized pipes to clogged sewer lines, you usually find out that there is a problem after the fact. Heed the warnings given during your home inspection and negotiate for the issue to be resolved prior to your closing escrow.

Depending on the state, the buyer usually has a little over two weeks to conduct inspections and negotiate repairs. Do not remove contingencies until all of your concerns have been addressed.

Inadequate Drainage

It might not be obvious from the initial walkthrough, but many homes have drainage issues. During wet weather events, improper drainage could cause structural damage. There is also the risk of water buildup causing problems such as a pest infestation or uneven pavement. Your home inspection should include detailed information about drainage and grading around the house.

Insufficient Insulation

While it may not feel important when the weather is perfect outside, insufficient insulation can be a real drag during the summer and winter months. Insulation works to regulate your home’s temperature by trapping cool air indoors during the summer and retaining warm air during the winter.

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If the house does not have proper insulation, you’ll end up spending a lot of money trying to heat and cool your home. While improper insulation may not be a reason to back out of a contract, it is something you will want to have remedied. Fortunately, it’s a fairly simple and inexpensive fix.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Housing Market 2023: Buying a Home? Be Wary of These 6 Home Inspection Issues

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