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Switching to more sustainable packaging tape

Sustainability

Small changes often culminate in bigger, better results. The same is true for sustainability. Companies strive for sustainable processes and operations that make a real impact. Yet they often overlook the small details, such as packaging and adhesives. Enter our more sustainable packaging tape: a key step toward improving your operations.

From bio-based tapes made from renewable resources to self-adhesive reinforced paper tapes (opens in a new window or tab), we’re showcasing our more sustainable packaging tape engineered using more environmentally conscious methods and materials.

What makes it a more sustainable packaging tape?

A person sealing a cardboard box labeled 'tesa' using a tesa tape dispenser on a conveyor belt in a packaging facility, with multiple similar branded boxes visible in the background

We categorize our more sustainable packaging tapes as those made using materials and methods that help reduce environmental impact. These tapes comprise recycled materials, renewable content, or recyclable substrates (opens in a new window or tab), such as paper or recycled PET (opens in a new window or tab).

At tesa, we designed our more sustainable tapes to support customers (opens in a new window or tab) in reducing waste and improving recyclability. There is also the added benefit of responsible material sourcing (opens in a new window or tab). You can source our claims for your sustainability efforts when you link to our data sheets and reports (opens in a new window or tab).

How to choose a more sustainable packaging tape 

Whether you need to seal and secure corrugated board or traditional cartons, you will find a more sustainable packaging tape in our portfolio.

Tapes for corrugated board

Our range of more sustainable packaging tapes allows corrugated and board packaging to be fully recycled. If you’re looking to make this switch, you might be wondering where to begin when replacing your existing tapes. Here are three of our core tapes for corrugated board:

 

roll of white tesa strapping tape with a partially peeled end, isolated on a white background (This text has been generated by AI)

01Paper-based closing tape

tesa® 61346 (opens in a new window or tab) is a great example of a more sustainable packaging tape. This paper-based closing tape enables you to secure cardboard boxes or mailer bags, and can be recycled without the need to separate from your packaging.
roll of brown tesa adhesive tape with a partially unrolled strip, set against a white background with a green globe logo nearby (This text has been generated by AI)

02Paper-based tear tape

Our paper-based tear tapes (opens in a new window or tab), tesa® 51344 and tesa® 51334, provide another fantastic solution for improving the sustainability of your packaging. We have designed these tapes to solve the challenges you face: strong and secure enough to protect valuable goods during transport, while remaining lightweight and recyclable without the need to separate from the rest of the packaging used.

 
roll of brown tesa adhesive tape with partially unrolled strip on white background and green globe logo (This text has been generated by AI)

03Paper-based packaging reinforcement

When you need to strike a balance between reducing the thickness of your packaging materials while maintaining security, strength, and durability, tesa® 51345 (opens in a new window or tab) could be your ideal solution. This fine yet mighty reinforcement tape adds extra strength and is fully recyclable without the need to separate from the rest of the packaging.

We have designed this tape specifically to solve challenges in packaging where critical stress areas, such as side hole handles, flap handles, and top hole handles, are present on the packaging. The performance of our more sustainable, paper-based tesa® 51345 (opens in a new window or tab) has been tested against market standard film-based tapes, and has proven to be just as strong and durable!

Making carton sealing tapes more sustainable 

As a market leader for packaging tapes, we are aware of the importance of developing more sustainable solutions. Sustainability is as integral to our own business operations as it is to helping our customers advance on their sustainability journey.

We understand that carton sealing tapes need to be secure, strong, and easy to apply. We also appreciate the growing importance of making these widely used tapes more sustainable. 

tesa® 60400 (opens in a new window or tab) is one such tape where we’ve leveled up our product development. The backing material is polylactic acid (PLA), selected for its naturally lower carbon footprint as well as outstanding performance properties. Its adhesive system also comprises almost entirely renewable materials, derived from feedstocks. This, plus natural rubber and a natural-based resin, has almost replaced the use of petroleum-based materials in this tape's composition.  

Engineering new tapes isn’t the only way we’re improving the sustainability of our portfolio. We are also optimizing our existing products. tesa® 60412 (opens in a new window or tab) is one such tape that received a glow-up. With the strength to seal cartons up to 30kg, we have made the following improvements to this popular packaging tape:

  • Increased the recycled plastic content in the backing from 70% to 90%.
  • Solvent-free acrylic adhesive system.
  • It can be recycled with the carton, compliant with INGEDE Method 12 (opens in a new window or tab) certification for the recyclability of printed products.

Additionally, tesa® 60408 (opens in a new window or tab) is another recycling-friendly tape. Made with a robust, wear-resistant paper backing and a natural rubber adhesive that is 100% bio-based, this tape is recycling-friendly. These attributes make it an ideal choice for a more sustainable packaging tape that is strong, tear-resistant, and low-noise.

Let’s talk about making more sustainable packaging tape decisions

Get in touch today

What are the benefits of changing to a more sustainable packaging tape?

We developed our range of more sustainable packaging tapes so you don’t have to choose between performance and reducing your environmental impact. 

#1 Performance without compromise

Sustainable choice doesn’t need to mean inferior performance. Our selection of more sustainable packaging tape features high adhesion and strong backing paper. We test each of our tapes to guarantee the usual high standard you’ve come to expect from us.

#2 Recyclability

Feel confident to shout about your sustainability efforts; our new tapes are certified as recyclable. This means you can back your words with confidence and meet regulatory guidelines.

#3 Let’s drive sustainability, together!

From responsibly sourced paper backings to a 100% recycled paper core, our more sustainable packaging tapes are engineered to help minimize your impact on the environment. 

#4 Join our partnership for design freedom

Design-for-recycling isn’t just a buzzword, it’s a conscious effort at tesa. Join our partnership (opens in a new window or tab), and our experts will support your designers to drive sustainable change in the world of packaging. Through our collaborations, we get a better understanding of your challenges, meaning we engineer adhesive solutions that future-proof your packaging and our planet!

#5 Processability

Seamlessly integrate our tapes with your board manufacturing processes! We’ve tested to make sure our tapes fit with market-leading applicators, making your transition to our more sustainable packaging tapes as painless as possible.

person wearing gloves sealing a cardboard box with tesa tape in a warehouse setting (This text has been generated by AI)

How Sellpy use tesa® 4713 more sustainable packaging tape to meet its eco goals

“Workers were able to secure boxes using only one strip of tesa® 4713. With their previous tapes, multiple strips were needed to seal packages.”

Sustainability is at the forefront of all that Sellpy (opens in a new window or tab) do. They live and breathe circularity, as a platform for users to resell a range of products they no longer want. So it was important for them to prove their ethos in their packaging solutions. 

Sellpy trialled replacing their previous tapes with tesa® 4713 for all its packaging. This fully recyclable tape improved the sustainability of their packaging, reduced waste and lowered their carbon footprint. 

Since the trial, Sellpy are now a fully fledged customer. They felt that compared to previous tapes used, our more sustainable packaging tape offers superior adhesion to their cardboard packaging, and they needed less than before to secure it.

Oskar Nielsen, Sellypy Co-Founder, says:

“We want to empower our customers to live circular. This applies to the items they buy and the packaging that comes with them. This is why our partnership with aPak and tesa has been so important. They’ve helped us achieve top-to-bottom, more sustainable packaging.”

Our portfolio of more sustainable packaging tape

tesa® 60408 (opens in a new window or tab)tesa® 4513 (opens in a new window or tab)tesa® 4713 (opens in a new window or tab)tesa® 60013 (opens in a new window or tab)tesa® 4313 PV10 (opens in a new window or tab)tesa® 4313 PV12 (opens in a new window or tab)
Backing materialCertified paperCertified paperCertified paperReinforced paperCertified paperCertified paper
Total thickness [μm]125105125210107125
Type of adhesiveNatural rubberSynthetic rubberNatural rubberSynthetic rubberSynthetic rubberSynthetic rubber
Adhesion to steel [N/cm]2.88.52.8>117.59.5
Tensile strength [N/cm]6070301256060
Elongation at break8%3%10%6%6%6%
ColorBrownBrownBrown, whiteBrownBrown, whiteBrown, white
PrintabilityYesYesYesNoYesYes

01tesa® 60408

Bio-based paper packaging tape

Product composition

  • Very strong kraft paper backing
  • High tack natural rubber adhesive with reliable adhesion

Sustainability aspects

  • 92% bio-based carbon content in total product certified by DIN CERTCO
  • Made with paper from well-managed certified forests and other controlled sources
  • Recycling-friendly according to INGEDE Method 12 (78/100)

Product application

  • For mediumweight cartons up to 20 kg
  • Suitable for manual and automatic applications
roll of brown tesa adhesive tape with red and white branded core on white background (This text has been generated by AI)

02tesa® 4513

Superior paper packaging tape

Product composition

  • Very strong adhesion and high initial tack
  • Good resistance to shock impacts
  • Strong kraft paper backing

Sustainability aspects

  • Paper backing made with paper from well-managed certified forests and other controlled sources
  • Recycling-friendly according to INGEDE Method 12 (100/100)

Product application​​

  • Ideal for the sealing of cardboard boxes up to 15 kg
  • Suitable for manual and automatic applications
Large roll of brown kraft paper tape with tesa branding, isolated on white background, used for packaging or sealing. (This text has been generated by AI)

03tesa® 4713

Standard paper packaging tape

Product composition

  • Crepe paper backing
  • Natural rubber adhesive with reliable adhesion

Sustainability aspects

  • Paper backing made with paper from well-managed certified forests and other controlled sources
  • Recycling-friendly according to INGEDE Method 12 (100/100)

Product application

  • For lightweight cartons and envelopes up to 10 kg
  • Suitable for manual and automatic dispensers
roll of brown tesa adhesive tape with grid pattern, isolated on white background, showing brand logo inside the roll (This text has been generated by AI)

04tesa® 60013

Self-adhesive reinforced paper tape

Product composition

  • Excellent adhesion and aggressive tack
  • High tensile strength
  • Paper backing reinforced with fiberglass scrim

Sustainability aspects

  • ​Recycling-friendly according to INGEDE Method 12 (75/100)
  • Solvent-free production process

​Product application​​

  • Suitable for heavy-duty packaging applications (>25 kg)
  • Suitable for manual and automatic dispensers

05tesa® 4313 PV12

Premium paper packaging tape

Product composition

  • Very strong adhesion and high initial tack
  • Highly resistant to shock impacts

Sustainability aspects

  • Paper backing made with paper from well-managed certified forests and other controlled sources
  • Recycling-friendly according to INGEDE Method 12 (83/100)

Product application​​

  • Ideal for sealing of light- and mediumweight cartons (max. 20 kg) 
  • Suitable for manual and automatic dispensers

A step towards improving your sustainability: sustainable packaging tape

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Frequently asked questions and answers

Let us describe what we understand by the term "degradable": Biodegradable plastics are plastics that decompose under certain conditions, leaving nothing but CO₂ and water behind when they break down. Both are defined in standards. Bio-based plastics can be biodegradable, but often are not. Conversely, biodegradable plastics are not necessarily also bio-based. Our more sustainable packaging tapes are not considered biodegradable.

Compostability describes the characteristic of a product, packaging or associated component that allows it to biodegrade, generating a relatively homogeneous and stable humus-like substance. Our more sustainable packaging tapes are not considered compostable.

Let us describe what we mean by the term "recycable": A characteristic of a product, package or associated component that can be removed from the waste stream through available processes and programs and collected, processed and reused in the form of raw materials or products. Only pre-consumer and post-consumer materials are considered recycled content.
Our more sustainable packaging tapes are recycling-friendly, not yet fully recycable. Recycling-friendly means they can be disposed with the cardboard and led into the recycling stream for paper, but within that our adhesives are not endangering the recycling process as they are pulled out of the recycling stream.

Bio-based plastics are plastics partly produced from biomass. The raw materials are usually provided by plants rich in starch and cellulose such as wood, corn, wheat, sugar cane, vegetable oil, algae or biological waste from households, animal husbandry and food production. Bio-based materials can be procured continuously. This means that use and consumption cannot exceed nature’s ability to reproduce these types of materials. The term "renewable" is slightly different to "bio-based": The term renewable refers to resources of energy, food and stock that are available continuously as nature is able to reproduce them. The term renewable is contrasted with those resources that are based on fossils fuel and thus only possess limited stocks.

Polylactic acid (PLA) is derived from plant-based corn starch, so it is a bio-based material, and has been used in the production of tesa® 60400 Bio & Strong since 2021. The bioplastic can be used as a film backing, while the adhesive is based on biological raw materials such as natural rubber and tree resin.

DIN CERTCO is the certification body of TÜV Rheinland Group and is the certification body for the issuance of the DIN-Marks and further certification marks.

Source: DIN CERTCO Website (opens in a new window or tab)

INGEDE Method 12 is a test method of the International Association of the Deinking Industry for the recyclability of printed products and - to our knowledge - the only standard available to determine the recycling behavior of PSAs (e.g. labels and stickers). The main goal of INGEDE activities/methods is to safeguard and improve paper/cardboard recyclability.
The INGEDE Method 12 provides an assessment about the removability of adhesive applications during the paper recycling process​. During the paper recycling process, adhesive applications disintegrate during pulping to stickies (also known as adhesive residues)​. The more adhesive residues are collected, the better for the paper recycling process. This method provides a removability score between -20 and 100 points depending on how good the adhesive residues can be removed.

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