Polypropylene Tape

Seven grades of polypropylene packing tape covering every warehouse and despatch application. Select by carton weight, adhesive type and noise requirement. All grades on a 76mm core, available in brown and clear.

Choosing the right polypropylene tape: grades explained

Carton weight is the primary selection factor. Once you have established the weight range, select by adhesive type based on bonding speed, noise and UV requirements.

Economy 25 micron (PDT03567)

Polypropylene film. Acrylic adhesive. Up to 20kg. Dispenser only. UV resistant. Brown and clear. 48mm x 66m.

Standard 28 micron (PDT01423)

Polypropylene film. Hot melt adhesive. Up to 20kg. Dispenser only. UV resistant. Brown and clear. 25/48/75mm. 66m and 132m.

Low noise 28 micron (PDT01868)

Polypropylene film. Acrylic adhesive. Up to 20kg. Dispenser only. UV resistant. Quiet application. Brown and clear. 48mm. 66m and 100m.

Heavy duty 32 micron (PDT00449)

Polypropylene film. Natural rubber adhesive. Up to 30kg. Dispenser only. Brown and clear. 48mm and 75mm. 66m.

Heavy duty low noise 35 micron (PDT01547)

Polypropylene film. Acrylic adhesive. Over 30kg. Dispenser only. UV resistant. Quiet application. Brown and clear. 48mm and 75mm. 66m and 100m.

Recycled low noise 32 micron (OFF_51953)

80% recycled polypropylene film. Acrylic adhesive. Up to 30kg. Dispenser only. UV resistant. Quiet application. Brown. 48mm. 66m.

Recycled polyester PET tape (OFF_UK_00953)

85% recycled PET film. Hot melt adhesive. Up to 20kg. Dispenser only. Brown and clear. 48mm. 132m.

Grade guide: which polypropylene tape for which operation

Economy 25 micron (PDT03567) — light duty, low volume

The entry point in the range. Acrylic adhesive on a 25 micron film, rated for cartons up to 20kg. The right choice for post rooms, small offices and low-frequency sealing where cost-per-roll is the primary consideration. Not recommended for sustained high-volume packing lines or variable board quality.

• 48mm x 66m
• Brown and clear
• Acrylic adhesive
• Up to 20kg
• Dispenser only
• UV resistant

Standard 28 micron (PDT01423) — general warehouse and e-commerce

The standard grade for warehouse and e-commerce packing lines. Hot melt adhesive bonds on contact without a dwell period, allowing immediate carton movement after sealing. Available in three widths and two roll lengths to suit mixed carton operations. UV resistant once applied.

• 25mm, 48mm, 75mm widths; 66m and 132m roll lengths
• Brown and clear
• Hot melt adhesive — instant contact bond
• Up to 20kg
• Dispenser only
• UV resistant once applied

Low noise 28 micron (PDT01868) — quiet application up to 20kg

Same 28 micron film as the standard grade, with an acrylic adhesive for quiet unwinding. The right choice for open-plan offices, customer-facing packing areas and confined despatch environments. Available in 66m and 100m roll lengths. UV resistant once applied.

• 48mm; 66m and 100m roll lengths
• Brown and clear
• Acrylic adhesive — quiet application
• Up to 20kg
• Dispenser only
• UV resistant once applied

Heavy duty 32 micron (PDT00449) — cartons up to 30kg

Natural rubber adhesive on a 32 micron film, rated for cartons up to 30kg. Natural rubber provides faster initial grab and higher peel strength on corrugated board than acrylic or hot melt. The correct choice for industrial fulfilment, heavy carton operations and mixed lines where weights approach 30kg.

• 48mm and 75mm; 66m roll length
• Brown and clear
• Natural rubber adhesive — fast initial grab
• Up to 30kg
• Dispenser only

Heavy duty low noise 35 micron (PDT01547) — heavy cartons, quiet application

The strongest grade in the range. Acrylic adhesive on a 35 micron film, rated for cartons over 30kg, with the same quiet unwinding characteristic as the standard low noise grade. RAJA's best selling tape. Available in two widths and two roll lengths. UV resistant once applied.

• 48mm and 75mm; 66m and 100m roll lengths
• Brown and clear
• Acrylic adhesive — quiet application
• Over 30kg
• Dispenser only
• UV resistant once applied

Recycled low noise 32 micron (OFF_51953) — recycled film, quiet application

Acrylic adhesive on a 32 micron film made from 80% recycled polypropylene content. Rated for cartons up to 30kg, with quiet unwinding. For operations looking to reduce virgin plastic use in their packaging without switching tape type. Note: recycled polypropylene film still requires specialist film collection and cannot be recycled in paper or cardboard streams.

• 48mm x 66m
• Brown
• Acrylic adhesive — quiet application
• Up to 30kg
• 80% recycled polypropylene film
• UV resistant once applied

Recycled polyester PET tape (OFF_UK_00953) — 85% recycled content

Hot melt adhesive on a 19 micron PET film made from 85% recycled content. Rated for cartons up to 20kg. The highest recycled content tape in the range. Available in 132m rolls for high-volume lines. Note: PET film cannot be recycled in paper or cardboard streams.

• 48mm x 132m
• Brown and clear
• Hot melt adhesive
• Up to 20kg
• 85% recycled PET film

Polypropylene tape adhesive types: hot melt, acrylic and natural rubber

Adhesive chemistry determines bond speed, noise, temperature performance and UV resistance. Selecting the right adhesive for your operation is as important as selecting the right film thickness.

Hot melt adhesive

Hot melt is a thermoplastic adhesive that bonds on contact with the board surface. It develops full peel strength immediately, allowing cartons to be stacked or moved without any dwell time. Hot melt is the fastest adhesive in the range for high-speed packing lines. It is louder on application than acrylic — the adhesive stretches and snaps back against the film as it unwinds. Hot melt grades: standard 28 micron (PDT01423), recycled PET (OFF_UK_00953).

Acrylic adhesive

Acrylic is a water-based pressure-sensitive adhesive that releases gradually from the backing film, producing quiet unwinding. It takes 15 to 30 seconds to develop full peel strength after application. Acrylic adhesive provides UV resistance once applied and performs consistently across ambient temperature ranges. Acrylic grades: economy 25 micron (PDT03567), low noise 28 micron (PDT01868), heavy duty low noise 35 micron (PDT01547), recycled low noise 32 micron (OFF_51953).

Natural rubber adhesive

Natural rubber provides the fastest initial grab and highest peel strength on corrugated board of any adhesive in the range. It bonds on contact and performs well on textured and recycled board surfaces where acrylic and hot melt can underperform. Natural rubber is louder on application than acrylic. Natural rubber grade: heavy duty 32 micron (PDT00449).

Polypropylene tape for every operation type

E-commerce and retail despatch

Standard volume e-commerce operations sealing single-wall cartons up to 20kg are best served by the standard 28 micron hot melt grade (PDT01423). The instant bond allows continuous movement on fast packing lines. For customer-facing or open-plan environments, the low noise 28 micron grade (PDT01868) provides the same film performance with quiet application. Clear tape suits operations where labels and markings must remain visible through the tape.

High-throughput warehouse and industrial fulfilment

Operations running mixed carton weights across multiple packing stations should select grade by maximum carton weight. For cartons consistently above 30kg, the heavy duty low noise 35 micron grade (PDT01547) is the best selling tape in the range, combining load strength with quiet application across high-volume lines. The 100m roll length reduces roll change frequency on busy stations. For cartons between 20kg and 30kg where noise is not a concern, the heavy duty 32 micron natural rubber grade (PDT00449) provides faster initial grab.

Noise-sensitive environments

Open-plan offices, customer-facing retail packing counters and confined despatch areas all benefit from low noise tape. Select the grade by carton weight: low noise 28 micron (PDT01868) for cartons up to 20kg; heavy duty low noise 35 micron (PDT01547) for cartons over 30kg. Pair with the RAJA low noise tape dispenser (PDT02202) for the quietest possible application at both the unwinding and cutting stages.

Operations reducing virgin plastic use

Two grades offer recycled film content. The recycled low noise 32 micron grade (OFF_51953) uses 80% recycled polypropylene film with quiet acrylic adhesive, rated for cartons up to 30kg. The recycled PET grade (OFF_UK_00953) uses 85% recycled polyester film with hot melt adhesive, rated for cartons up to 20kg and available in 132m rolls. Neither grade can be recycled in kerbside streams; both require specialist film collection. For fully kerbside-recyclable tape, use self-adhesive paper tape.

Fragile goods despatch

For cartons containing fragile items, use pre-printed fragile polypropylene tape (PDT01607), which seals the carton and applies a FRAGILE, FRAGILE DO NOT CRUSH or CONTENTS CHECKED & SECURITY SEALED message in a single application. Fragile tape communicates a handling instruction; adequate inner packaging must always be used alongside it.

Frequently asked questions

What is brown tape used for?

Brown tape is used for sealing corrugated cartons and boxes for despatch, storage and transit. It is the most widely used packing tape in warehouses, post rooms and e-commerce fulfilment operations. Brown polypropylene tape is available in a range of film thicknesses and adhesive types to suit carton weights from under 20kg up to over 30kg.

What is the difference between brown tape and clear packing tape?

Brown tape and clear packing tape are both polypropylene film tapes with the same adhesive types and weight ratings. The difference is cosmetic: brown tape blends with corrugated board for a consistent appearance; clear tape is near-invisible against board and does not obscure printed labels or markings. Both are available across all grades in the RAJA polypropylene range.

How do I choose the right polypropylene tape for my operation?

The primary selection factor is carton weight. For cartons up to 20kg, the economy 25 micron grade or standard 28 micron grade covers most operations. For cartons up to 30kg, use the 32 micron heavy duty grade. For cartons over 30kg, use the heavy duty low noise 35 micron grade. If noise is a concern at any weight, select the low noise grade rated for that weight. If kerbside recyclability is required, use the recycled low noise grade or switch to self-adhesive paper tape.

What is the difference between hot melt and acrylic polypropylene tape?

Hot melt adhesive bonds on contact without a dwell period, making it faster for high-volume lines. It is louder on application. Acrylic adhesive takes 15 to 30 seconds to develop full peel strength but unwinds quietly and provides UV resistance once applied. Natural rubber adhesive, used on the 32 micron heavy duty grade, provides the fastest initial grab and highest peel strength on corrugated board.

Can polypropylene tape be recycled?

Standard polypropylene tape cannot be recycled in paper or cardboard streams and requires specialist plastic film collection. The recycled low noise grade (OFF_51953) is made from 80% recycled polypropylene film but still cannot go in kerbside recycling. The recycled polyester PET grade (OFF_UK_00953) is made from 85% recycled content. For tape that is fully recyclable with the box, use self-adhesive paper tape.

What is low noise packing tape?

Low noise packing tape uses an acrylic adhesive that releases gradually and quietly from the backing film as it unwinds, in contrast to hot melt tape which stretches and snaps back loudly. Low noise grades are available at 28 micron rated for cartons up to 20kg (PDT01868) and 35 micron rated for cartons over 30kg (PDT01547). Both use the same 76mm core and are compatible with all standard dispensers.

What is brown parcel tape made of?

Brown parcel tape is made from a polypropylene film backing with a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. The adhesive is either acrylic, hot melt or natural rubber depending on the grade. The film is available in 25, 28, 32 and 35 micron thicknesses across the RAJA range.

Does polypropylene tape work in cold warehouses?

All grades in the RAJA polypropylene range have a minimum application temperature of 0°C. Cartons from cold or chilled environments should reach ambient temperature before sealing. For sub-zero environments, speak to the RAJA team about the right tape for your application.

You might also need

• Tape dispensers — all polypropylene tapes in this range use a 76mm core; this is the full category for pistol-grip, bench and low noise dispensers compatible with every grade.
• RAJA low noise tape dispenser (PDT02202) — matched to the low noise tape grades for the quietest possible application at both unwinding and cutting.
• Pre-printed fragile polypropylene tape (PDT01607) — seals and labels fragile cartons in a single application; three message options.
• Self-adhesive paper tape — for operations where kerbside recyclability is required; paper tape is recyclable with the box without removal.
• Gummed tape and dispensers — water-activated tape for tamper-evident sealing and high-recycled-content board where polypropylene tape underperforms.
• 3M tape — RAJA also stocks a range of 3M polypropylene and specialist tapes for operations requiring 3M-specification performance.
• Packaging tape and adhesives — full category including paper tape, gummed tape, masking tape, double-sided tape and industrial tape.