Best Practices

What Is Water Activated Tape and Why Should You Use It?

Water activated tape (WAT) is a paper based product with an adhesive that is dry to the touch until brushed with water. Once wet, the adhesive turns into a tacky, sticky material that is perfect for sealing corrugated containers. With many types of tape available on the market, the question is, why should you choose water activated? In this article, we’re going to look at why water activated tape is one of the most commonly used options for sealing boxes, especially in the ecommerce industry.

Water activated tape is tamper evident
One of the biggest advantages of using this type of tape is that it improves the security of your product during shipping and delivery. Water activated tape cannot be separated from the box without taking the top layer of the box with it. If applied properly, peeling it off will damage the container, making it easy to see it was tampered with. Corrugated boxes sealed with standard tape, on the other hand, can be pushed in and opened without any visible signs of damage. The fact that it is tamper evident is the #1 reason that WAT is so popular with ecommerce companies.

Temperature resistance
Temperatures can go up or down during transit, delivery, and even when a box is placed on the top rack of a warehouse where it’s warmer than the ground floor. As temperature changes, the adhesive on regular tape can degrade and become less effective. Hot temperatures can also break down glue on regular tape before you even apply it. The benefit of water activated tape is that it can withstand a variety of harsh conditions, including high and low temperatures, humidity, and aging. The reason for this resistance is the fact that WAT is bonded and reinforced with materials like nylon or fiberglass.

High tensile strength
Because WAT is bonded with robust materials, it is the perfect option for sealing large boxes carrying heavy products. When activated with water, the adhesive on the tape becomes so strong that, when set in place, it penetrates the fibers of the corrugated material, effectively fusing with the package. That extra strength is crucial for holding the box together when pushed to its limits and also key when it comes to security, because the tape will not separate from the box without tearing it.

Better branding
The appearance of your packaging can have a big impact on customer satisfaction. The majority of ecommerce shippers choose water activated tape to seal their boxes, because it prints well and is easy to apply to the packaging without folding or creasing the tape, which can be a big issue for plastic pressure sensitive tape options.

Environmentally friendly
Environmental consciousness and sustainability have become increasingly important for consumers. Paper based packaging is a popular choice, because it is more easily recycled than plastic and is often less energy intensive to manufacture. Because water activated tape is made from paper and has a corn starch based adhesive that is recyclable and biodegradable, it is generally a more sustainable alternative to plastic tape options.

We offer high quality water activated tape and both manual and semi-automatic WAT dispensing machines. If you want to switch to water activated tape, then contact our team today !