Here's Everything You Need to Know About Water-Activated Tape

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With its customizable and multi-use features, packaging tape is an amazing solution for branded packaging. From securing boxes to taping up tissue, you can personalize with any design and literally stick it straight down. It's personal and practical!

But what if you could get all of that from a tape that was stronger, more secure and way more sustainable than the regular stuff? That’s where water-activated tape comes in! It’s the real deal when it comes to ticking all these boxes, and we can’t help but be excited about its contribution to packaging and the planet!

But what exactly is water-activated tape, and how does it work?

The Low Down

Water-activated tape (WAT), also known as gummed tape, is a paper-based packaging tape that has an adhesive activated by – you guessed it – water! This clever creation forms an immediate bond with packaging materials by using gum instead of nasty toxic chemicals.

Not only does it have a magic adhesive, water-activated tape is actually stronger than regular plastic packaging tape. It's weaved from crossed synthetic fibres to make it extra tough, which means it has enough muscle to hold 30kgs per package without the need for any plastic or fiberglass reinforcements. Sturdy, secure and sustainable? Sign us up!

How To Use It

Once you’ve chosen your design and ordered your tape, all you need to do is stick it on down! Simply measure your tape to size, dampen the gummed side with a sponge or tape dispenser and, hey presto, it’s ready to go!

It’s really that easy. Just check out our Beyond the Box video with Ben below.

What Equipment You’ll Need

Aside from your gorgeous tape and the packaging you want to apply it to, you’ll need a tool that's ready to wet and activate the adhesive – and we don’t recommend taking it into the shower with you! Instead, depending on the size of your business, here are three options to help you get started:

Sponge

It all starts with the humble sponge. The simplest way to get your tape ready to rumble and a perfect starter for small-businesses, just wet a sponge and use it to dampen the tape. Once activated you can apply to your chosen surface and make sure it’s all stuck together. Even better, noissue sends a sponge as a freebie with all tape orders, making it even easier to get started.

Manual Tape Dispenser

Sponges are fine if you're a small business, but if you've got a larger operation happening you'll want something a bit heftier to help you out. Manual dispensers help roll the tape across wet sponges and quickly cut it when you’re ready. What a little packaging sidekick! Here at noissue, we currently sell tape dispensers if you’re ordering from the US, and we're working on making them available worldwide. Other countries can easily track one down in stores.

Electric Tape Dispenser

Electric dispensers are high-tech devices that will help activate larger quantities of tape by automatically feeding, moistening and cutting to your desired length. They're perfect if you’re a larger business who have a whole lot of packaging to tape up!

Removing the tape

When it’s time to dispose of the tape, your customers can leave it on any compostable packaging as it's 100% compostable, too.

To remove it off other types of packaging, simply peel from the end and rip it off.

Once removed there is zero stickiness left behind, meaning it cannot be reused. This makes water-activated tape an ideal solution against unwanted theft and tampering of your parcels as it can’t be removed without leaving obvious signs of damage.

The Sustainability Factor

Regular packaging tape can be useful, but the problem lies in what it is made from.

Plastics and glossy waxes are pretty bad for the planet and with consumers being increasingly eco-conscious, it’s important for brands big and small to up their sustainability game.

Ultimately, water-activated tape isn’t made from plastic, so it's a great replacement for sellotape or masking tape.

Here are some of water-activated tape’s other eco-friendly benefits.

Water-Activated Stickiness