Self-adhesive Paper Tape

How to choose the right paper tape grade

Select by carton weight first, then by adhesive type and recyclability requirement. Note: three of the four grades are kerbside recyclable with the carton. The 125gsm reinforced grade is not, due to its glass fibre filament construction.

1. Up to 20kg, standard cartons: 57gsm natural rubber grade. Hand-tearable, kerbside recyclable, minimum application temperature 10°C. The direct recyclable replacement for standard polypropylene tape.
2. Up to 20kg, faster packing lines: 80gsm hot melt grade. Faster initial tack than natural rubber, hand-tearable, kerbside recyclable. Minimum application temperature 15°C, which is a narrower cold tolerance than the 57gsm grade.
3. Up to 30kg, heavier cartons: 70gsm natural rubber grade. Same recyclability and hand-tearability as the 57gsm grade, with a higher load rating. Minimum application temperature 10°C.
4. Over 30kg, export and heavy loads: 125gsm reinforced grade. Glass fibre filament construction, dispenser required, rated up to 75kg. Not recyclable as glass fibre cannot be separated from the paper stream. Select this where load strength is the priority and recyclability is not a requirement.

Paper tape grade guide

Self-adhesive kraft paper tape 57gsm — standard cartons up to 20kg

The standard recyclable alternative to polypropylene tape for ecommerce and despatch operations. Natural rubber adhesive on 57gsm kraft paper, hand-tearable, no dispenser required, and kerbside recyclable with the corrugated carton in the paper stream. Compatible with standard 76mm core pistol grip dispensers if preferred. Available in brown and white. Minimum application temperature 10°C.

Hot melt brown paper tape 80gsm — faster tack up to 20kg

Hot melt adhesive on 80gsm kraft paper gives faster initial bond than the natural rubber 57gsm grade, suited to higher-speed packing lines where dwell time matters. Hand-tearable and kerbside recyclable with the carton. Minimum application temperature is 15°C, which is a narrower cold tolerance than the natural rubber grades, so check bench and storage conditions before switching.

Self-adhesive resistant paper tape 70gsm — heavier cartons up to 30kg

Natural rubber adhesive on 70gsm kraft paper with the same hand-tearability and kerbside recyclability as the 57gsm grade, but with a higher load rating. For operations running mixed carton weights up to 30kg that want a single recyclable tape grade to cover the full range without switching. Minimum application temperature 10°C.

Self-adhesive reinforced paper tape 125gsm — export and heavy loads up to 75kg

The highest load-rated paper tape in the range. Hot melt adhesive on 125gsm kraft paper reinforced with glass fibre filament, rated for packages up to 75kg. Requires a dispenser as the filament construction prevents hand-tearing. Not kerbside recyclable: the glass fibre content cannot be separated from the paper stream. Select this where load strength is the priority and recyclability is not a requirement.

Recyclability by grade

Paper tape is the most common recyclable alternative to polypropylene film tape in ecommerce and despatch operations. Three of the four grades in this range are kerbside recyclable with the corrugated carton in the standard paper stream, with no removal needed at sorting, unlike polypropylene tape which requires specialist film collection.

• 57gsm natural rubber: recyclable. Kerbside recyclable with the corrugated carton. No removal needed.
• 80gsm hot melt: recyclable. Kerbside recyclable with the corrugated carton. No removal needed.
• 70gsm natural rubber: recyclable. Kerbside recyclable with the corrugated carton. No removal needed.
• 125gsm reinforced: not recyclable. Glass fibre filament cannot be separated from the paper stream. Do not select this grade where recyclability is a requirement.

For operations requiring tamper-evident sealing as well as recyclability, gummed paper tape provides a water-activated bond that penetrates board fibres and cannot be removed without visible damage to the carton surface.

Frequently asked questions

What is paper tape for packaging?

Paper tape for packaging, also called kraft tape, brown paper tape, or eco tape, is a paper-backed adhesive tape used to seal cardboard boxes and cartons for despatch and storage. Unlike polypropylene film tape, most paper tape grades are kerbside recyclable with the corrugated carton in the standard paper stream, with no removal needed at sorting. RAJAPACK stocks four self-adhesive grades from 57gsm to 125gsm reinforced, covering carton weights from under 20kg to 75kg.

Is paper tape recyclable?

Three of the four self-adhesive paper tape grades in the RAJAPACK range are kerbside recyclable with the corrugated carton: the 57gsm, 70gsm, and 80gsm grades. The 125gsm reinforced grade is not recyclable due to its glass fibre filament content. All three recyclable grades go in the standard paper stream with the box, with no removal needed, unlike polypropylene tape which requires specialist film collection.

What is kraft tape?

Kraft tape is the common name for self-adhesive paper packaging tape made from kraft paper, the same brown paper material used in corrugated cardboard. It is used interchangeably with "brown paper tape" and "eco tape" to mean recyclable paper-backed packing tape. All three unreinforced grades in the RAJAPACK self-adhesive paper tape range are made from kraft paper and are kerbside recyclable with the corrugated carton.

What is the difference between 57gsm and 70gsm paper tape?

Both use natural rubber adhesive and are hand-tearable and kerbside recyclable. The difference is load rating: 57gsm is rated for cartons up to 20kg; 70gsm is rated for cartons up to 30kg. Both have a minimum application temperature of 10°C. For operations running mixed carton weights across both ranges, the 70gsm grade covers both without needing two tape types on the bench.

What is the minimum temperature for paper tape?

The natural rubber grades (57gsm and 70gsm) require a minimum application temperature of 10°C at the carton surface. The hot melt 80gsm grade requires 15°C. Below these thresholds the adhesive cannot flow into the board fibres and the bond will fail under transit load. For cold chain or sub-10°C environments, polypropylene tape with acrylic adhesive provides a wider cold-temperature range.

Can paper tape be used with a standard tape dispenser?

The 57gsm, 70gsm, and 80gsm grades are hand-tearable and compatible with standard 76mm core tape dispensers, including the pistol grip models typically used with polypropylene tape. No equipment change is needed when switching from polypropylene to paper tape on these grades. The 125gsm reinforced grade requires a dispenser as its glass fibre filament construction prevents hand-tearing.

What is the difference between self-adhesive paper tape and gummed tape?

Self-adhesive paper tape bonds on contact, peel and apply, with no activation needed. Gummed tape requires water activation to release its starch-based adhesive, which then penetrates the board fibres and creates a tamper-evident bond that cannot be removed without visible damage to the carton surface. Gummed tape is the stronger choice for high-recycled-content board and tamper-evident applications; self-adhesive paper tape is faster to apply and needs no dispenser for the standard grades.

Is paper tape strong enough for heavy parcels?

The 70gsm grade is rated for cartons up to 30kg and covers most standard despatch operations. For heavier loads up to 75kg, the 125gsm reinforced grade provides higher tensile strength through its glass fibre filament construction, though it is not recyclable and requires a dispenser. For cartons over 30kg where recyclability is still required, gummed paper tape provides a stronger fibre-penetrating bond while remaining recyclable with the carton.

You might also need

• Tape dispensers — pistol grip dispensers compatible with all 76mm core paper tape grades; no equipment change needed when switching from polypropylene tape.
• Gummed tape and dispensers — water-activated paper tape for tamper-evident sealing and high-recycled-content board applications.
• Polypropylene tape — for cold chain or sub-10°C environments where paper tape adhesive cannot perform.
• Packaging tape and adhesives — full category including all tape types and dispensers.

Need help choosing the right paper tape grade for your operation? Contact the RAJAPACK team.