If you’re still sealing your boxes with plastic tape, you’re not alone. It’s what most people have always used because it’s everywher, it’s cheap and it works.

But the thing that a lot of businesses don’t realise… that strip of plastic tape is causing a big problem. Not just for the environment. But for your recycling rates, your brand perception, and increasingly, your customers’ expectations.

Paper tape is the straightforward alternative. And at Reuseabox, we sell it, we use it, and we genuinely believe it’s the smarter choice for most businesses shipping goods today.

What is paper tape?

Paper tape, sometimes called kraft paper tape, is an adhesive packing tape made from paper rather than plastic film. It’s used in exactly the same way as conventional packing tape; to seal cardboard boxes, secure parcels, and keep your packages intact during transit.

There are two main types:

Self-adhesive paper tape

This has a pressure-sensitive adhesive backing, much like regular packing tape. Peel and apply. No water needed. This is the most commonly used type for everyday dispatch and fulfilment operations.

Gummed paper tape

This tape uses a starch-based adhesive that you activate with water before applying. Once dry, it bonds directly with the fibres of the cardboard box, creating a stronger, tamper-evident seal. It’s particularly popular with premium and high-volume shippers.

Paper tape vs plastic tape: what’s the difference?

This is the question we get asked most often. Let’s break it down.

Recyclability

Standard plastic packing tap, the clear or brown polypropylene tape you’ll find in most warehouses, is not recyclable. Not on its own, and not when it’s stuck to a cardboard box.

This matters more than people realise. When a cardboard box arrives at a recycling facility, it goes through a pulping process. Plastic tape doesn’t break down in that process. It has to be removed before the card can be recycled properly, which costs time and resources. In many cases, boxes with too much plastic contamination are simply rejected.

Paper tape is different. Because it’s made from the same materials as the box itself, it goes through the recycling process along with the cardboard. No separation needed. No contamination. The whole package can be recycled as one.

Strength and hold

A common assumption is that paper tape must be weaker than plastic tape. In our experience, that’s not accurate.

Our self-adhesive kraft paper tape adheres strongly to cardboard surfaces and has good resistance to moisture and humidity, both of which matter during transit. One layer is enough to secure most standard shipments. In fact, we specifically recommend against double-layering, because paper tape doesn’t bond well to itself. One clean application is all you need.

Appearance

There’s a reason more brands are making the visible switch to paper tape. Brown kraft tape has a natural, considered aesthetic that signals something to the person opening the parcel that this business has thought about the impact of its packaging.

For businesses reusing cardboard boxes (as many of our customers do), paper tape also helps tell that story. Our branded ‘Reuse Community’ tape is printed with ‘Don’t judge a box by its cover’. This is a prompt that explains to your customer why the box looks the way it does, and why that’s a good thing.

Cost

Paper tape is often assumed to be more expensive. Per roll, it can be, but cost per package is the more useful comparison. Because paper tape creates a strong seal with a single layer, you typically use less tape per box than you would with plastic. Over time, and at scale, the difference in cost narrows considerably.

The recycling argument (and why it matters)

There’s a shift happening in customer expectations around packaging.

Businesses that have made the switch to paper tape frequently report that it becomes a visible, talking point, especially for customers who are already thinking about their own environmental impact.

If your customers are reusing or recycling the boxes you send them, plastic tape creates a friction point. They either have to remove it before recycling (fiddly, often incomplete) or they bin the box altogether. Paper tape removes that barrier entirely.

For B Corp certified businesses, sustainability-focused brands, or anyone shipping to an audience that cares about waste, paper tape is one of the simplest, lowest-effort changes you can make to your packaging.

Who is paper tape right for?

Paper tape works well for a wide range of businesses. It’s particularly well-suited to:

• E-commerce sellers dispatching products to individual customers, especially where the unboxing experience matters and customers are likely to be recycling at home.
• Small and growing businesses who want to align their packaging with their values without a significant operational change.
• Businesses reusing cardboard boxes – our core customer base. Paper tape pairs naturally with our used boxes. Together, they make a strong statement about a business’s approach to waste.
• Brands focused on sustainability or circular economy principles for whom plastic packaging materials are increasingly inconsistent with what they stand for.

It’s worth noting that paper tape isn’t always the right choice for every application. Very heavy-duty industrial shipments, or situations where significant moisture exposure is likely, may call for more specialist solutions. But for most SME dispatch operations, standard self-adhesive kraft paper tape is more than capable.

Our paper tape range

We stock paper tape in a couple of sizes, depending on your needs.

Self-Adhesive Kraft Paper Tape – 48mm x 50m

Our most popular width. The 48mm tape is a great all-rounder for standard box sizes and everyday dispatch. It adheres directly to carton surfaces, is 100% recyclable, and is available in packs of 6 rolls through to quarter-pallet quantities for high-volume users.

Self-Adhesive Kraft Paper Tape – 75mm x 50m

The wider option, suited to larger boxes or situations where additional coverage is useful. Same strong, moisture-resistant adhesive as the 48mm, with the benefit of broader coverage per strip.

Reuse Community Self-Adhesive Kraft Paper Tape – 48mm x 50m

Our branded version, printed with ‘Don’t judge a box by its cover’. Ideal for businesses actively reusing cardboard boxes who want to explain that choice to their customers. Same performance as the plain version, with a values-led message built in.

Frequently asked questions

Making the switch: what to expect

The transition from plastic to paper tape is genuinely simple. There’s no equipment change required, no staff retraining needed, and no change to your packing line.

Most businesses that make the switch notice a few things fairly quickly:

• The tape is visually distinctive. I’s an obvious signal that something about the packaging has changed
• One layer is enough, which often means going through tape slightly more slowly than before
• Customers notice, and sometimes mention it

For businesses already reusing boxes, it’s often the natural next step and the two work well together as part of a broader story about how you approach packaging.

If you have questions about which tape is right for your operation, or if you’re interested in bulk quantities, get in touch with our team. We’re happy to help.

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