Packing tape is a familiar stationery staple. It is a sturdy tape used to seal packages, cardboard boxes, and storage cartons.
Flexible and hard-wearing, it is also known as parcel or packaging tape. Scotch tape is another commonly used term, especially in North America. However, Scotch is actually a brand name, owned by the 3M Corporation.
Parcel tape is usually brown but transparent or coloured tapes are also available. It is a pressure-sensitive product, meaning its self-adhesive properties are activated once pressed into place. Most packaging tape is made from the plastic polymers polyester or polypropylene (sometimes shortened to polyprop).
Multiple lengths, widths and thicknesses are available, but the most common include:
- 100m x 500mm
- 50m x 25mm
- 50m x 500mm