Tape use is reduced: for every 2-3 strips of plastic packaging tape, you will only need 1 strip of self-adhesive paper tape as it’s stronger and more durable. Due to the fact you will be using much less tape, this also means sealing costs are reduced.
Printing: self-adhesive paper tape can be printed on and so it will improve your packaging’s appearance and enhance the customer experience.
While Self-Adhesive Paper Tape is known to be more cost-effective than gummed paper tape, it is in fact not as environmentally friendly as it’s often advertised, and businesses fail to mention the release coating and hot melt glues side effects in which it is made from. This is because like plastic tapes, Self-Adhesive Paper Tape is made with synthetic adhesives that are not recyclable. However as it’s less than 10% of the overall weight, it’s still kerbside recyclable. The release coating is made with either Linear-Low-Density-Polyethylene or Silicone for winding the roll to ensure the hot melt adhesive does not stick to the paper. This coating that is used is what gives the tape its shine. However, because it is made of plastic, this means it is very difficult to recycle.

As for the hot melt adhesive, the primary polymers used in hot melts are ethylene-vinyl acetate or ethylene n-butyl acrylate, styrene block copolymers, polyethylene, polyolefins, ethylene-methyl acrylate, and polyamides and polyesters. This means that Self-Adhesive Paper Tape is a thermoplastic material that is made of additives, stabilizers and pigments that are also used in plastic tapes. So, what does this mean? Well, this shows that just because a tape is made from paper, does not mean the adhesives are any better for the environment.

It’s also important to note that this type of paper tape is more prone to pilferage and the bond it offers is not as good as that of a water activated tape.