Skip to content
Adhesive tape - a problematic product
In terms of environmental compatibility, adhesive tape is a very difficult product. It consists of several components and, unfortunately, very rarely are they all environmentally friendly.
Plastics
Most adhesive tapes are made from plastics such as PET, PP and PVC. Their production requires the use of non-renewable petrochemical raw materials such as oil. In addition, plastic adhesive tapes are usually difficult to recycle and remain in the environment for a long time, which can contribute to air, water and soil pollution.
Artificial adhesives
The biggest problem in choosing an eco-friendly adhesive tape is finding one that contains an environmentally friendly adhesive. Even if the tape is made of eco-friendly materials such as paper or biodegradable material it unfortunately contains an artificial adhesive in most cases.
The artificial adhesives used to make traditional adhesive tapes are usually made of chemicals such as synthetic resins, epoxy adhesives, polyurethane adhesives, as well as formaldehyde and other organic compounds. Many of these substances are difficult to biodegrade and can pose a risk to the environment if not disposed of properly.
Is plastic adhesive tape recyclable?
What happens to adhesive tape after it has been used up raises a lot of questions. Consumers often ask where to dispose of plastic adhesive tape. This is not surprising. It seems logical that it should go into the plastic bin. However, this is a mistake. It should go in the mixed waste bin.
Recycling artificial adhesive tape is difficult for several reasons. Firstly, most adhesive tapes contain different materials, such as films, mesh or paper, which hinder the recycling process. These materials have to be separated and processed separately, which requires additional labour and time.
Secondly, the adhesives used for adhesive tapes are usually made of chemicals such as synthetic resins, epoxy or polyurethane adhesives, which can be difficult to recycle.
Ultimately, recycling adhesive tapes is difficult due to the fact that these products are typically used in a variety of locations and situations, resulting in large amounts of waste. Recycling these products requires a coordinated effort and appropriate infrastructure, which is often hampered by a lack of investment in recycling and a lack of consumer awareness.
What is the difference between eco-friendly adhesive tape and traditional tape?
Natural materials
Ecological adhesive tape differs from traditional adhesive tape primarily in its composition. Unlike conventional adhesive tapes, which are made of plastic, ecological adhesive tapes are produced from biodegradable or recycled materials. This means that when the tape is no longer used, it does not pollute the environment and leaves no permanent waste. pozostawia trwałych odpadów.
Paper adhesive tape
Printed paper adhesive tape
A great option would be paper adhesive tape. Paper is a natural material that does not leave behind harmful substances. Increasingly, you can also find adhesive tapes made from recycled paper, which will make an even greater contribution to environmental protection.
Here, too, however, you need to look at the offers carefully. Some paper adhesive tapes are additionally coated with plastic to increase their durability. However, this is not necessary. Paper tapes are strong enough to adequately secure even heavy packages.
Compostable tape
If, however, you are not convinced by paper adhesive tape and feel that it does not sufficiently secure your products, compostable adhesive tape is a great and by far the most ecological and functional solution.
Compostable adhesive tape is ideal for the environment - it is made from bioplastics, i.e. natural plant materials. It is produced from natural, renewable raw materials and not, for example, from petroleum like classic plastic. In addition, it can be composted after use. Under the right conditions, it decomposes into natural compounds that are harmless to the environment - water, carbon dioxide and biomass.
This is not the end of the advantages of compostable tapes. In terms of properties, they are confusingly similar to ordinary plastic. They have almost identical strength and are resistant to damage and tearing.
Natural adhesives
In addition to the tape face material, the right adhesive is very important. It must be environmentally harmless and at the same time have sufficient adhesion to ensure the safety of our products.
The best will be a vegetable adhesive that will decompose into harmless substances after use. An example is natural rubber glue. It does not contain any artificial additives and at the same time is very functional. It provides the tape with excellent adhesion. It prevents the tape from pulling away from the surface and thus gives us the assurance that the product packages will reach our customers in full. In addition, it works very well at low temperatures, whereas many other adhesives tend to harden and crumble.
Tapes that combine everything
Choosing the most environmentally friendly adhesive tape involves combining all of the above features in one product. There are already such adhesive tapes available on the market.
The best choice, for example, would be a compostable adhesive tape with a plant-based adhesive. It is made of special bioplastics based on corn starch and a plant adhesive made of rubber. As a result, it can be disposed of in the BIO bin after use. Under the right conditions, it will decompose into environmentally harmless compounds.
Another example is paper adhesive tape with natural adhesive. It is made of natural, uncoated paper and compostable rubber adhesive. This is ideal for sealing and securing cartons, as the tape is segregable and does not need to be separated from the rest of the packaging.
It's important for the environment, your customers and your brand
In conclusion, by choosing eco-friendly adhesive tape, you are not only taking care of the environment, but also the quality of your work and the image of your company. By choosing adhesive tapes made of paper or biodegradable materials, you can be sure that your packaging will be easier to recycle and will not leave a negative footprint on the environment. Your customers will certainly appreciate this.
It is worth remembering that by choosing eco-friendly adhesive tape, you are contributing to the protection of the environment and improving the quality of life for future generations. Therefore, each of us should ensure that the products we use are as environmentally friendly as possible.
