Ecommerce in the United States is projected to hit $735.4 billion by 2023, which means that a lot of packages are landing on front porches all across America.
The increase in ecommerce revenue and shipping volume amplify the importance of making sure quality is paramount in all areas of the fulfillment process - especially when it comes to sealing cartons before shipment.
We recommend water-activated tape for companies shipping valuable products, in large or small quantities.
Water-activated tape (also known as gummed tape, Kraft paper tape, reinforced paper tape) is designed to create a superior seal on your corrugated cartons while providing advantages other carton sealing methods do not.
With the surge of e-commerce, industry-leading companies have been making the switch from pressure sensitive tape (PST) to water-activated tape (WAT).
Companies typically make the switch for a number of reasons, with productivity being high up on the list.
One large customer made the switch to increase productivity and shipped millions of packages this past holiday season. As you can imagine, packers physically sealing that many cartons using a hand-held tape gun would be exhausted.
Studies prove that carton sealing productivity is 21% higher when using gummed paper tape and a gummed paper tape dispenser versus pressure-sensitive tape being applied via handheld dispenser.
Further, just one strip of water-activated shipping tape is all that’s needed to seal a carton properly. This can translate into financial savings when considered against plastic pressure sensitive tape, which requires more than one strip of tape per package to provide a reliable seal.
Theft Prevention
Unfortunately, Comcast reports that roughly 1 in 4 people have been a victim of package theft, resulting in a lot of uncertainty when ordering online.
While your packaging and shipping choices can’t stop “porch pirates” from snagging delivered goods, you can choose materials that prevent would-be thieves.
When sealing a carton with regular plastic packing tape, the tape just sits on top of the box. This creates a weak seal that makes the tape easy to remove.
Theft during the transport process is far too common with packages sealed this way.
One can simply press down on the box and slide a hand in to remove contents from the carton without any visual damage being done to the carton itself.
This is where the security of water-activated tape comes in.
Each strip of WAT literally bonds to the carton. If someone tries to tear or open the package, tamper evidence will be easily detected.
Better Packages manufactures a full line of gummed tape dispensers. Our parent company, Intertape Polymer Group (IPG) manufactures Central® brand water- activated tape. Both companies have been in business for over 100 years, satisfying loyal customers by fulfilling their packaging needs.