There are many different types of packing tape. While we have recently seen a lot of paper packaging tape for the natural look, the packaging market has been dominated by PP and PVC tape for years. But what is PP tape? And what is PVC tape? And what is the difference between PP and PVC? We try to explain it briefly and powerfully.

Tape consists of 2 components; the carrier and the adhesive layer. In many cases, the carrier consists of paper or plastic. In the case of plastic tape, as mentioned, polyethylene (PP) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are the most commonly used. We also know the adhesive on the carrier in different types. Consider, for example, easily removable in the case of painter's tape and permanent adhesive in the case of duct tape . Our packaging tapes mainly contain natural glue (Solvent) or synthetic glue (Hotmelt).

The differences between PP tape and PVC tape?

Noise level

PP tape is in many cases cheaper than PVC tape. A disadvantage of PP tape is that it makes relatively much noise when unrolling, which makes it less pleasant (than a PVC tape) to work with. Incidentally, PP tape producers have been smart enough to also market low noise tapes, which brings the tape closer to PVC tape in terms of noise level.

Transparency of PP tape and PVC tape

Another difference between PP and PVC tape is the transparency of the tape. The PP tape is more transparent, which makes it very suitable for use on printed boxes. So that the printing on the box remains clearly visible. You obviously only have this advantage with the transparency variant. A transparent PVC tape is often more matt or yellowish.

Elasticity of PP tape and PVC tape

The PP tape is also less elastic than PVC tape. This ensures that the tape tears sooner, which is not always convenient with tape, of course. An advantage here is that the tape can be torn off more easily by hand if you don't have a tape dispenser nearby.

Strength of PP tape and PVC tape

The last important distinction is the difference is adhesiveness and elasticity. The PVC tape is often used for packages heavier than 30 kg, where the PP tape is perfectly sufficient for a package under 30 kilograms. Incidentally, the material of the packaging still plays an important role here, as it has an impact on the adhesive strength. When the outside of the packaging (i.e. the side on which the tape is stuck) is made of recycled material, you will in some cases notice that PP tape sticks less well than PVC tape.

	PP tape - polyethylene	PVC tape - polyvinyl chloride
Price	The price per roll is in many cases cheaper compared to PVC tape.	The price per roll is in many cases more expensive compared to PP tape.
carrying capacity	Suitable for packages up to ± 30 kilograms.	Suitable for packages that are heavier ± 30 kilograms.
Use on recycled cardboard	Sticks less strongly	Sticks fast and strong
Elasticity	Less elastic, making it more likely to tear. The advantage here is that it can be torn off by hand.	Very elastic, which hardly prevents tearing of the tape.
Transparency of transparent tape	Transparent, which makes it very suitable for printed packaging.	Less transparent, making it less suitable for use on printed packaging.
Noise level	Makes a lot of noise when unrolling. Incidentally, it is available in Low Noise, which makes it quieter.	Makes little noise when unrolling, which makes it more pleasant to work with.

Different adhesives on the tape

As explained in the introduction, tape consists of a carrier and an adhesive layer. We also know different types of glue layers. Common glue layers are Solvent, hot melt and acrylic glue. Here too we list a number of differences, so that you can make the best tape choice.

Solvent adhesive , or the natural rubber, is used on both PP and PVC tape. Solvent adhesive has a very high adhesive strength and can withstand low temperatures. That is why this type is regularly used for tape that is used outdoors or for international transport.

Hot melt glue is a synthetic glue that is only used for PP tapes. This is a cheaper solution, which is often used for short packaging times. Easy said; when the box needs to be closed for less time, as in many cases with e-commerce packaging. The glue loses its strength with temperature changes, which is why this glue is not recommended for international transport.

Acrylic glue is a final type of glue that is often used on PP and PVC tapes. This is mainly used for PP Low Noise tapes, because the acrylic glue is and remains very transparent, so that the yellow glow does not appear. As a result, the tape remains translucent for, among other things, those printed boxes.