Business A minimally reprocesses the scrap by shredding it and uses it another time to manufacture similar plastic trays. Hotmelt: often used in colder weather, hotmelt has a stronger adhesion than acrylics on many surfaces including cardboard and is more resistant to stress. It is best applied with a tape dispenser or applicator. Quieter application: vinyl tape is quieter when released from the roll compared to standard polypropylene tape. This can help create a better working environment for staff. However, if you prefer a low noise alternative to vinyl, try our low noise Supatak. Examples: Beverage bottles, Food bottles/jars (salad dressing, peanut butter, honey, etc.) and polyester clothing or rope. 2) High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

There are plenty of options available on the market for the so-called paper tapes. These products are typically renewable kraft paper-based but also contain natural rubber (tree-derived). What recycled plastic is has been updated. The sections on pre-consumer plastic, post-consumer plastic and reprocessing plastic have been amended for clarity. Examples have been added to the reprocessing plastic section. While we believe that plastic alternatives are a must, and support initiatives to develop them, the reality is that plastic is here and will be for some time. Therefore, I say let’s try to better understand it, rather than ignore it or simply bash it. In the end, not all plastic is bad. Humanity has certainly benefited from it in some ways and you can even make arguments that support that it’s also been beneficial to the environment – although in very specific examples.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Post-consumer plastic is plastic that’s generated by the end user of the product when it can no longer be used for its intended purpose. Ah yes, the infamous “other” option! This category is a catch-all for other types of plastic that don’t belong in any of the other six categories or are combinations of multiple types. We include it because you might occasionally come across the #7 recycling code, so it’s important to know what it means. The most important thing here is that these plastics aren’t typically recyclable. Firstly, there are three different types of adhesives available for tapes: Acrylic, Hotmelt and Solvent. Each of these have different properties which make them more suitable for various situations. Other cellulose-based materials which are chemically modified, such as cellulose acetate, are considered plastic. Paper tape is a much more eco-friendly alternative to conventional tape, which is made from plastic.

This hard and rigid plastic is resistant to chemicals and weathering, making it desired for building and construction applications; while the fact that it doesn’t conduct electricity makes it common for high-tech applications, such as wires and cable. It’s also widely used in medical applications because it’s impermeable to germs, is easily disinfected and provides single-use applications that reduce infections in healthcare. On the flip side, we must note that PVC is the most dangerous plastic to human health, known to leach dangerous toxins throughout its entire lifecycle (eg: lead, dioxins, vinyl chloride).Otherwise, continue reading on for an in-depth comparison on polypropylene, vinyl, and paper tape. The Different Types of Adhesives