The Application Value of Scotch Tape in Food Packaging and Supply Chain
In the food and beverage industry, brands often focus heavily on packaging bag materials, printing processes, and environmental performance, but often overlook a crucial detail: the sealing tape. As the final step in the packaging chain, tape directly impacts shipping safety, the consumer experience, and the brand's overall market control.
Scotch tape, a well-known tape brand in the industry, is widely used in food and beverage packaging due to its stable adhesive properties and transparent, aesthetically pleasing appearance. It has become a generic term for strong and reliable transparent tape.
In the process of customizing coffee and food flexible packaging solutions for clients, MTPAK has discovered that many companies rely on scotch tape for sealing, protection, and display during transportation and warehousing. This demonstrates that choosing the right tape is not a secondary consideration but a critical component in ensuring the efficiency of the entire packaging system.
What is the core material of Scotch tape?
Scotch tape's performance depends primarily on its two core components: the backing material and the adhesive.
l Backing Material (Film Base):
BOPP (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene): This is currently the most popular backing material. It is stretched through a special process, resulting in extremely high transparency, excellent tensile strength, and puncture resistance. BOPP is also chemically stable, resistant to aging, and waterproof and moisture-resistant, making it an ideal choice for applications requiring clean, dry environments, such as food packaging.
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): It is relatively soft and ductile, but its environmental friendliness is poor and it may contain plasticizers. Its use in food packaging has been declining.
PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate): It offers greater strength and temperature resistance than BOPP, but is also more expensive. It is typically used for heavy packaging requiring high-temperature resistance.
l Adhesive (Source of Adhesion):
Pressure-sensitive Adhesive: Scotch tape typically uses pressure-sensitive adhesive, meaning it only requires light pressure to adhere, without the need for water or heat.
Water-based Acrylic Adhesive: This is currently the most environmentally friendly and safe adhesive type. Non-toxic and odorless, with excellent weather resistance (UV resistance, high and low temperature resistance), and long-lasting, stable adhesion, it is ideal for packaging food and related products.
Solvent-based acrylic/rubber-based adhesives: They have strong initial adhesion, but performance may decrease at low temperatures and may have a slight odor, so they should be selected with caution for high-end food packaging.
What are the characteristics of Scotch tape?
Scotch tape, a common transparent tape, is frequently used in food and retail packaging due to its stable performance and wide adaptability. Its key features include:
Long-lasting adhesion: Using pressure-sensitive adhesive, it maintains its strength and resists peeling, even during long-distance transportation or storage.
High transparency: Sealing does not affect the text or images on the outer packaging, making it ideal for packaging that requires a visually appealing brand image.
Weather-resistant: It can withstand a range of temperatures and humidity fluctuations and remains stable in both cold chain and general logistics environments.
Easy to use: It can be applied manually or with automated packaging equipment, meeting the needs of production and logistics operations of varying scales.
Multi-material compatibility: It is compatible with a wide range of materials, including cartons, plastic bags, and laminated film packaging, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.
These features make Scotch tape more than just a sealing material; it also serves as a tool for ensuring the safety and integrity of food packaging.
How does Scotch tape work in food packaging?
l Ensure a secure seal
In flexible packaging bags, cartons, or composite packaging, tape is often the final means of securing the packaging. A secure seal not only prevents accidental opening during transport but also reduces damage and minimizes the risk of returns.
l Protect product hygiene and quality
During food storage and transportation, dust, moisture, and impurities can enter the packaging through leaks in the seal. Using high-quality Scotch tape creates a secondary barrier, maintaining food hygiene and safety.
l Reduce the risk of tampering
Packaging integrity is closely linked to consumer trust. Scotch tape effectively prevents unauthorized opening during transport, giving consumers a greater sense of security upon receiving the product.
l Improve warehousing and transportation efficiency
The adhesive stability of high-quality tape reduces the possibility of secondary packaging, thereby improving overall efficiency in the logistics chain.
How to use Scotch tape?
Not all transparent tapes are created equal. Based on thickness, function, and processing technology, they can be categorized into the following common types:
Standard Sealing Tape:
Features: The most common type, made with a BOPP backing and a water-based acrylic adhesive. It offers excellent clarity and basic adhesion.
Applications: Daily carton sealing and packaging, suitable for general food packaging of moderate weight.
Thickened Reinforced Tape:
Features: By increasing the backing thickness (commonly seen as 45μm, 48μm, or even thicker), it significantly increases tensile and tear strength.
Applications: Providing superior security for heavy cartons, fragile packaging, or food packages destined for long-distance transport.
Knifeless Cutting Tape (Pre-Slit Tape):
Features: The tape roll is pre-cut with easy-tear notches, eliminating the need for cutting tools and allowing for clean, manual tearing. This significantly improves packaging efficiency.
Applications: E-commerce shipments and high-frequency assembly line packaging operations are ideal for logistics operations focused on efficiency.
What parameters should pay attention to when buying Scotch tape?
To avoid purchasing errors, you should pay attention to the following:
Is the material safe and environmentally friendly?
Prefer products clearly labeled as using a BOPP backing and water-based acrylic adhesive.
How do thickness and length affect cost?
Thickness (μm) affects strength, while length (meters) affects cost. Consider the overall cost-effectiveness based on your daily needs.
Which is more important, initial tack or lasting tack?
Initial tack determines the initial effect of the application, while lasting tack determines long-term durability. A good tape should possess both, providing comprehensive protection for your packaging.
Conclusion
Scotch tape, a seemingly simple everyday material, is actually a sophisticated product that supports the efficient and safe operation of the modern food supply chain.
By carefully matching its material, type, and application, you can transform this small piece of tape into a practical tool that improves packaging reliability, optimizes operational efficiency, and ultimately protects your brand reputation.
If your product is looking for a safer, more efficient, and market-oriented packaging solution, please contact MTPAK today. We will provide customized packaging solutions and rapid proofing services to help you maintain your competitive edge.
Email：account@mtpak.com
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