Polypropylene Tape

Brown tape and clear packing tape in polypropylene film, available in seven grades from economy 25 micron to heavy duty 35 micron. The RAJAPACK polypropylene tape range covers carton weights from under 20 kg to over 30 kg, with hot melt, acrylic and natural rubber adhesive options. All grades are stocked on a standard 76 mm core compatible with pistol-grip, bench and low noise tape dispensers.

Whether you need brown parcel tape for high-volume warehouse despatch, clear packing tape for label-visible ecommerce shipments, or low noise polypropylene tape for open-plan offices, every grade is available for next day delivery.

How does polypropylene tape compare to other packaging tapes?

Polypropylene tape is the most widely used carton sealing tape in UK warehouses, post rooms and fulfilment operations. It offers the best balance of strength, cost and application speed for standard corrugated carton sealing across all weight classes up to 35 kg+.

Self-adhesive paper tape is the right choice when kerbside recyclability matters. Paper tape can go in the recycling with the box; polypropylene film must be removed and collected separately. For operations with sustainability commitments that require the tape to be recyclable with the carton, paper tape is the correct specification.

Vinyl tape provides higher tear resistance and colour options for coding, identification and tamper awareness. It costs more per roll than polypropylene and is typically specified where colour coding or surface conformability is the primary requirement rather than volume carton sealing.

Gummed tape bonds to corrugated board fibres and provides a tamper-evident seal that cannot be removed without visible damage. It requires a water-activated dispenser and is slower to apply than polypropylene. Choose gummed tape where tamper evidence and a fully recyclable seal are both required.

For most warehouse and ecommerce despatch operations sealing corrugated cartons, polypropylene packing tape remains the standard. It is faster to apply, cheaper per roll than vinyl or gummed, and available across a wider range of film thicknesses and adhesive types than any other tape category. Pair your brown tape or clear packing tape with RAJAPACK's range of tape dispensers, warning and fragile tape, and industrial tape for reinforcement on heavy cartons.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is brown tape used for?

Brown tape is polypropylene packing tape used for sealing corrugated cartons and boxes for despatch, storage and transit. It is the most widely used tape in warehouses, post rooms and ecommerce fulfilment operations. RAJAPACK stocks brown tape in film thicknesses from 25 to 35 micron to suit carton weights from under 20 kg to over 30 kg.

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

Both are polypropylene film tapes with the same adhesive types and weight ratings. Brown tape blends with corrugated board for a uniform appearance. Clear packing tape is near-invisible against the board and does not obscure printed labels, barcodes or markings. Both are available across all seven grades in the RAJAPACK polypropylene range.

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

Start with carton weight. For cartons up to 20 kg, use the economy 25 micron or standard 28 micron grade. For cartons up to 30 kg, use the heavy duty 32 micron grade. For cartons over 30 kg, 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.

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 packing 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?

Polypropylene tape cannot be recycled in paper or cardboard streams. It must be removed from the carton before board recycling and collected separately through specialist plastic film streams. For tape that is fully recyclable with the box, use self-adhesive paper tape.

Does polypropylene tape work in cold warehouses?

All grades in the RAJAPACK polypropylene acryilic adhesive range have a minimum application temperature of -5 degrees C. Cartons from cold or chilled storage should reach ambient temperature before sealing. For sub-zero or specialist applications, contact the RAJAPACK team for a grade recommendation.

Seal every carton with the right brown tape or clear packing tape from RAJAPACK

With seven grades covering every carton weight, adhesive type and noise requirement, the RAJAPACK polypropylene tape range is the standard for UK warehouse and ecommerce despatch operations. All grades are stocked for next day delivery, with bulk discounts available on every product page.

For the full grade-by-grade comparison including adhesive types, roll lengths and operation-type recommendations, see our polypropylene tape buying guide. For bespoke advice on high-volume or non-standard applications, contact the RAJAPACK team or call 0800 542 44 28.