Custom Eco-friendly biodegradable Packing and sealing carton Water activated kraft paper tape

Water activated paper tape

It is primarily white or natural colored kraft paper with a starch-based adhesive. 

It's usually available in various widths and thicknesses and might contain multiplelayers with fiberglass reinforcement, depending on the strength necessary. 

When the adhesive is activated with water, it penetrates the carton material, forming a permanent bond. 

Water-activated tape bonds instantly to both virgin and recycled fiber surfaces and therefore, generates an immediate destructive bond resulting in a tamper evident package.WAT Paper Tape (Gummed Tape, Gum Tape, Kraft Tape) is offered in both fiberglass reinforced and plain paper with many styles available.

• Better, faster, stronger than pressure-sensitive packing tape.

• Provides a tamper-evident seal.

• Difficult to remove without leaving obvious signs of tampering.

• Easy to print on (advertise your brand).

• Retains integrity if punctured.

• Can be used in dusty or dirty environments.

• Maintains seal in extremes of cold, heat, light, humidity.

• Only one strip is needed to produce a sturdy seal.

• Recyclable.

• Eco-friendly and biodegradable.

• Writable.

• Masking font.

WATER ACTIVATED TAPE

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So, WHAT is the big idea about WAT?

Water activated paper tape (WAT) is a paper carton sealing tape (white or natural kraft) available in various widths and thicknesses and which may contain multiple layers with fiberglass reinforcement. When the adhesive on the Environmentally friendly biodegradable water activated kraft paper tape is wetted, it penetrates the carton material, forming a permanent bond with the carton. It bonds instantly to both virgin and recycled fiber surfaces, generating an immediate, destructive bond which is what makes it a highly effective theft deterrent.

• Secure Bond: the starch-based adhesive aggressively bonds to corrugated cartons, even in dusty or dirty environments

• Custom Imprinting: advertise your company and products, provide directions for freight handlers, and improve the appearance of your package with a customized look

• All-Weather Use: water activated tape is not affected by extreme hot or cold temperatures unlike other tapes, meaning that it can be used in any environment without sacrificing adhesion integrity

• Protection: a carton sealed with water activated tapecant be opened without leaving a broken seal

Sometimes called paper tape, reinforced tape, gum tape, gummed tape, reinforced gummed tape (RGT), non-asphaltic tape, Kraft (non-reinforced) tape, water activated taperequires a dispensing machine for application; it cannot be used with a traditional hand-sealing dispenser.

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• Better, faster, stronger than pressure-sensitive packing tape

• Provides a tamper-evident seal

• Difficult to remove without leaving obvious signs of tampering

• Easy to print on (advertise your brand)

• Retains integrity if punctured

• Can be used in dusty or dirty environments

• Maintains seal in extremes of cold, heat, light, humidity

• Only one strip is needed to produce a sturdy seal

• Recyclable

Companies are increasingly using water activated tape to ship their products ordered over the internet for reasons including tamper-evidence, theft avoidance, branding their cartons, sustainability, and additional strength. Any company in virtually any industry can benefit from using WAT, but its most typically found in the food, clothing, health care, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, electronics, public safety, furniture, and defense industries.

From a security perspective, all pressure sensitive tapes can be defeated with a heat source like a blow dryer. Unknown to the shipper or receiver, packages can be opened and re-sealed. Besides goods being removed from cartons due to theft, unwanted materials could be placed inside creating possible security or health risks. But, WAT is tamper-evident, so if cartons are compromised during shipment there is usually some kind of evidence showing that something has happened to the carton and, potentially, its contents.

Additionally, water activated tapeis more cost effective than traditional pressure tapes. Despite needing a brief moment for the adhesives to penetrate the carton, a WAT dispenser is superior to a typical tape hand dispenser with studies showing thesedispensers are 21% more productive.And if youre looking strictly on a cost-per-foot basis, three inch wide plastic tape is about the same price as three inch wide water activated tape, however, in practical applications, most packers will use at least two strips of traditional plastic tape, quickly making the cost-per-carton-sealed more expensive than WAT, which never needs a second strip across the same seam.

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Typically, even before the customer gets to yourperfectly designed product box - the one you've labored over, spent thousands of hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars in research and design on, the one that will really give them the initial feel for your product and could make or break the loyalty relationship - theyre met with the protective packaging that it is shipped in. And if that impression isnt of the highest quality, what holds promise that the contents of that box will be?

Packaging tape is a critical element to producing a secure seal that can withstand the distribution network. Unfortunately, its not always a top-level concern, but failure to do so can result in case sealing issues such as packaging tape not sticking and loose case seals. According to UPS, improper tape application is the leading cause of closure failure on a shipped box. Inconsistently sealed boxes create weak seals, leading to production downtime, carton reworks, material waste, heightened labor costs, and higher risk of product damage, contamination and theft in transit.

Thats why its so important to choose the right packaging tape.

There are several factors to consider before choosing a tape for your application, especially as various conditions can affect the quality and security of your seal. These factors include grade, environment, adhesion surface, application method, and tape quality.

• Grade: Packaging tapes are available in a variety of grades or varying levels of film thickness and amounts of adhesive. These grades ensure you have the right holding power and tensile strength: lower grades offer thinner backings and lower levels of adhesives making them ideal for lightweight carton sealing, while higher grades have thicker backings and adhesive layers making them better situated for heavy duty or high security sealing.

• Environment: The shipping and receiving environments are critical for determining which tape is going to fit your specific needs. Temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors can greatly affect different grades and types of tape. And why does that matter you might ask. One word: adhesion. Choosing the right tape can mean the difference between continuous adhesion and potential product contamination and damage from adhesive failure.

• Adhesion Surface: The surface to which the packaging tape is applied also important in determining the type of tape to use. Recycled cartons are used by many manufacturers, but the highly recycled nature of these cartons can affect the packaging tapes ability to securely adhere. As the recycled content increases, smaller fibers and more fillers are used making it for packaging tape to stick.

• Application Method: Packaging tapes can be applied to cartons via a manual or automated process. In manual processes, choosing a tape by unwind is a vital consideration. Additional tape features to look for include good tack for initial grab to the surface, a strong film backing for less stretching and breaking, and good adhesion to backing for those applications that require shingling, or stacking several strips of tape together to create the seal.

• Tape Quality: A final factor to consider when selecting a tape is quality. A tape thats manufactured well allows lines to run faster and longer. Variables such as inconsistent film thickness, thin adhesive coating, and little release coating may hinder the performance of the tape.

Read more:

• Water activated kraft pape tape

• Picking the right packaging tape

Water-Activated Tape (WAT) feels dry but is then reactivated by water. It is tamper resistant and, unlike Pressure Sensitive Tape, it cannot be peeled off a box and must be broken. It requires less material per seal than Pressure Sensitive Tape leading to equivalent or even lower total cost.

WAT would ideally be used in conjunction with a special dispenser that applies the water for activation. EcoEnclose offers high quality dispensers that range in price and level of automation. Once this type of dispenser is purchased, utilizing WAT is typically more operationally efficient than pressure sensitive tape. Explore our Pressure Sensitive Tape for lower-volume applications.

Check out our Guide to Eco-Friendly Packing Tape to learn about how to choose a sustainable packing tape and packing tape end-of-life.

WATER-ACTIVATED TAPE OPTIONS

Non-Reinforced: Certified recycle-friendly. Ideal for presentation style ecommerce boxes that weigh 10 lbs or less. Available blank (50% recycled content) and custom branded (no recycled content).

Reinforced: Reinforced with fiberglass. Ideal for presentation style ecommerce boxes that weigh 20 lbs or less. Available blank, pre-printed with our "Thoughtfully Eco-Friendly" design, and custom branded.

FEATURES

Renewable plant-derived adhesive & backing
Water-activated corn starch adhesive

CUSTOM BRANDING

Custom brand this tape! Order today.
Read our art specs and requirements prior to placing your custom branded order. Learn more.