The Cost of Plastic Pressure-Sensitive Tape vs. Paper Water-Activated Tape
By: Better Packages on January 1st, 1970
In assessing the cost of plastic tape and paper tape, it is important to look at the actual per-package expense. Pressure-sensitive tape typically costs less per foot than water-activated tape, but packers generally use multiple strips of plastic tape to close a carton. The fact that workers can create a strong seal by applying one strip of paper tape changes the cost equation.
In order to properly seal a carton with plastic carton sealing tape and prepare it for the rigors of shipping, workers generally must apply more than one strip. With each additional strip (and often two or more additional strips are used), the cost differential decreases and then quickly diminishes.
Plus, with the application of plastic tape being very inexact, strips are often longer than needed adding to the total material usage. What’s more, anyone who has used a tape gun knows that there is a great deal of waste that occurs in preparing and completing a strip, as well as losses from the tape becoming adhered to itself during the application process.
Additional Hidden Costs of Plastic Tape
Beyond the expenses noted above, which are simply based on the quantity of tape used, there are a number of hidden and potential costs associated with using plastic carton sealing tape on shipping cartons that must be considered. They include:
Product Damage
A few pennies that may be saved on shipping materials are immediately lost when a package opens in transit and product is damage or stolen. One incident can easily cost a company hundreds or even thousands of dollars in replacement product, investigation efforts, etc.
Reputation Damage
First impressions count. If the carton that a client receives looks rough and careless due to the use of multiple strips of tape, it can have a negative impact on their impression of the company. What’s more, consumers today can express their disappointment and displeasure with a purchase to a large social media audience with just a few minutes at a keyboard.
Missed Marketing Opportunities
Plastic tape is generally not branded like custom water-activated tape. People who see the package in the shipping stream, or after it has been received, may not be enticed into learning more about the company and its products.
In addition, any missed opportunity means also missing out on the ripple effect that each new customer can create when they share their experience with others.