If you're reviewing your packaging operation, tape is probably not the first thing on your list. But it should be higher up than most businesses put it. The tape you use affects your recycling credentials, your packing speed, your seal quality, and increasingly, what your customers think of you when they open their delivery.
We sell both paper tape and plastic tape at Datec, so this isn't a sell piece for one over the other. Here's an honest look at what each does well, where each falls short, and how to decide which is right for your operation.
What Plastic Tape Does Well
Polypropylene tape — the standard brown or clear plastic tape found in most packing operations — has a lot going for it. It's fast to apply, works reliably across a wide temperature range, and bonds well to most box surfaces without any special preparation. It's also cheap, widely available, and familiar to every packer who's ever worked in a warehouse.
For high-volume operations running tape guns at speed, plastic tape is consistent and forgiving. It stretches slightly, which helps it conform to box edges and irregular surfaces. If your priority is throughput and cost per metre, plastic tape is hard to beat on pure economics.
What Paper Tape Does Well
Paper tape has one significant advantage that plastic tape cannot match: it's kerbside recyclable along with the cardboard box it's sealing. When a customer puts a paper-taped box in their recycling bin, the whole thing can go together — no need to strip the tape off first.
Beyond recycling, paper tape also bonds differently to corrugated cardboard. Rather than sitting on the surface like plastic tape, it forms a stronger bond with the box itself, which makes it harder to tamper with and often more secure for heavier consignments. It also has a premium feel that plastic tape simply doesn't — which matters if the outside of the box is part of your brand presentation.
The Recycling Problem With Plastic Tape
This is the issue that's driving a lot of businesses to reconsider. Corrugated cardboard is one of the most successfully recycled materials in the UK — but plastic tape contaminates it. At a recycling facility, plastic tape has to be removed before the cardboard can be processed. In practice, a lot of it isn't, which downgrades the quality of the recycled material or causes it to be rejected altogether.
If you're switching to recyclable packaging — recycled cardboard, paper mailing bags, paper void fill — but still sealing everything with plastic tape, you're undermining the environmental case you're trying to make. For businesses responding to customer pressure or EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) obligations, this is worth taking seriously.
When Plastic Tape Still Makes Sense
There are situations where plastic tape remains the right choice. Very cold or damp environments can reduce paper tape's bond strength, particularly water-activated paper tape in unheated warehouses. Operations running at very high speed with automated taping equipment may also find plastic tape more compatible with their machinery.
If sustainability isn't a priority for your customers or your business, and you're working to tight margins on packing costs, plastic tape is a perfectly functional choice. We're not going to tell you otherwise.
When Paper Tape Is the Better Choice
If any of the following apply to you, paper tape is worth making the switch:
- You're already using or moving towards recyclable or paper-based packaging
- Your customers care about sustainability and you want your packaging to reflect that
- You're sending premium products where the outside of the box matters
- You want a stronger, tamper-evident seal on heavier shipments
The cost difference between paper and plastic tape has narrowed considerably in recent years, and many businesses find the switch is easier than they expected.
Datec's Recommendation
For most eCommerce and fulfilment operations, paper tape is now the better default — particularly if you're using corrugated cardboard boxes. The recycling argument alone is compelling, the bond quality is excellent, and the cost gap is smaller than it used to be.
If you're not sure which tape works best with your specific boxes and packing setup, the easiest way to find out is to try both. We offer sample tape packs so you can test before you commit, and our recyclable packaging range gives you the full picture on making your packaging operation more sustainable.
Not sure which tape is right for your operation? Request a sample pack and we'll send you a selection to try.
Paper Tape vs Plastic Tape: Which Is Right for Your Business?