From sealing e-commerce cartons to bundling goods in warehouses, BOPP tape is the workhorse of modern packaging lines. In many plants it is simply called “packing tape” or “carton sealing tape”, but technically it is a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape made on biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film.
As a flexible packaging film manufacturer, CloudFilm supplies BOPP tape film jumbo rolls to tape coaters and converters in many countries. This article explains what BOPP tape is, how it is constructed, the main types and benefits, typical applications, and how to choose the right BOPP tape film for your own packaging or tape-making project.
What is BOPP Tape?
BOPP tape, made of biaxially oriented polypropylene film, is coated with pressure-sensitive adhesive. This tape combines the high strength, chemical resistance, water resistance, transparency, and smoothness of BOPP film with the strong adhesiveness and ease of use of pressure-sensitive adhesive, making it an essential BOPP packaging tape.
The adhesive used in BOPP tape, such as acrylic, rubber, or hot melt, offers diverse adhesion, temperature resistance, and weatherability, ideal for BOPP packing tape suppliers.
BOPP tape is widely used in sealing, bundling, labeling, and general packaging, especially in retail, transportation, and storage industries. Due to its durability, stickiness, and adaptability, BOPP tape is a versatile and high-performance packaging material widely used in various situations.
Types of BOPP Tape
The pressure-sensitive adhesive used in BOPP tape is a special type that exhibits stickiness under slight pressure. It can adhere at room temperature and be easily removed. Based on the kind of pressure-sensitive adhesive, BOPP tape can be categorized into two main types.
BOPP Acrylic Tape (Water-Based)
It combines biaxially stretched polypropylene film’s high strength and transparency with an acrylic-based adhesive with excellent aging resistance and adhesion.
Typical characteristics and uses:
- Good clarity and gloss for barcodes, warning messages and logo printing
- Low odor and low VOC, suitable for offices, warehouses and retail stores
- Reliable long-term adhesion for standard carton sealing and stationery tapes
BOPP Hot Melt Tape
It incorporates high mechanical strength, transparent biaxially stretched polypropylene film, and a thermoplastic hot melt adhesive.
It is especially suitable for sealing, bundling, and packaging. Hot melt adhesives like EVA polymer are easy to coat when heated and quickly solidify upon cooling.
BOPP hot melt tape is popular for its strong adhesiveness, temperature resistance, easy processing, and eco-friendliness, particularly in commercial and industrial sealing, including light to medium-weight packaging. Despite temperature or chemical limitations, its rapid production and mechanical performance advantages remain prominent.
Typical characteristics and uses:
- Very strong initial grab for high-recycled or rough cartons
- Good performance at low and room temperatures, ideal for e-commerce fulfillment
- High coating speed and efficiency for tape manufacturers running wide, high-speed lines
Both types of tapes can be made in different colors. In addition to the most widely used transparent tape, they can be produced as white BOPP tape, red BOPP tape, brown BOPP tape, and other customizable colors.
Benefits Of Using BOPP Tape
Because of the synergy between BOPP film and pressure-sensitive adhesive, BOPP tape offers a combination of performance and cost that makes it the first choice for many packers.
High Strength and Durability
Biaxially oriented BOPP film gives the tape excellent tensile strength and tear resistance. Cartons stay securely sealed during filling, transport and stacking, even in export logistics.
Excellent Transparency and Shelf Appearance
High clarity allows labels, warning text and barcodes under the tape to remain visible. When printed, BOPP tape can also carry brand logos and promotional messages without hiding the product information beneath.
Strong and Versatile Adhesion
The tape adheres firmly to paperboard, corrugated cartons, plastic films and many other common packaging surfaces. With the right adhesive system, it works on virgin, recycled and coated boards.
Water and Chemical Resistance
BOPP material resists water, many acids, alkalis and oils. This helps protect packages in humid warehouses, cold chains and basic chemical logistics far better than paper-based tapes.
More Environmentally Friendly Than PVC Tape
BOPP is chlorine-free and generally easier to recycle than PVC-based tapes, supporting companies that are trying to improve the sustainability of their packaging portfolios.
Age Resistance and Stable Performance
High-quality BOPP tape maintains its clarity and adhesion over time. It does not yellow easily and is suitable for long-term storage, archiving and export shipments.
Cost-Effective for High-Volume Carton Sealing
Thanks to its strength-to-weight ratio, BOPP tape can achieve the required performance with relatively thin gauges. This makes it cost-effective for high-volume carton sealing lines compared with many alternative tape materials.
Easy to Process and Print
BOPP tape can be slit to many widths and roll lengths, runs smoothly on manual and automatic dispensers, and is suitable for logo and message printing, helping brands turn “ordinary packing tape” into an on-box advertising tool.
BOPP Tape Film: The Base Material Behind BOPP Tape
For tape manufacturers and converters, the core material is not the small finished rolls but the wide BOPP tape film jumbo rolls. CloudFilm produces BOPP tape film specifically engineered as the substrate for pressure-sensitive packing tapes.
Key features of CloudFilm’s BOPP tape film include:
- Thickness range typically from 25–50 µm to cover light, standard and heavy-duty carton sealing tapes
- One side optimized for adhesive anchorage, the other side corona-treated for 1–3 color logo or warning printing
- Tight thickness and profile control to keep adhesive coat-weight uniform and unwinding noise low
- Supplied as wide-width jumbo rolls for efficient coating, slitting and log-roll production
If you are evaluating new suppliers or backup sources for tape film, you can refer to CloudFilm’s BOPP Tape Film for Carton Sealing & Packaging Tapes page for detailed technical data, sample roll options and tailored quotations.
What Is BOPP Tape Used For?
In real packaging operations, BOPP tape appears in many familiar scenarios:
Carton Sealing and Reinforcement
The most common use of BOPP tape is sealing corrugated cartons for e-commerce, 3PL warehouses and export shipments. Its strength and adhesion help keep flaps closed and reinforce weak seams so boxes survive long supply chains.
Bundling, Unitizing and General Packaging
BOPP tape is used to bundle small boxes, secure loose items on a pallet and provide extra protection around corners and edges. It supports many general “packing tape” tasks in factories and warehouses.
Labeling, Warning and Identification
Printed BOPP tapes are often used as warning or instruction labels (“FRAGILE”, “DO NOT OPEN WITH KNIFE”, etc.). The film’s transparency and printability make these messages highly visible without adding a separate label.
Office, Household and DIY Uses
In offices and homes, narrow BOPP tapes serve as stationery tapes for repairing documents, attaching notes and doing simple craft projects. The same basic material is simply supplied in smaller widths and lengths.
Logistics and Storage
In logistics centers and long-term storage, BOPP tape helps seal and label cartons, group goods on shelves and maintain order. Its moisture and chemical resistance make it more reliable than many paper-based options.
All of these end uses start from BOPP tape jumbo rolls that are coated, slit and rewound by tape manufacturers. If you need a stable source of tape film for your own converting operations, CloudFilm’s BOPP tape film product is designed exactly for this purpose.
How to Choose the Right BOPP Tape (or Tape Film)
When you discuss BOPP tape specifications with a supplier—or when you select BOPP tape film for your own coating line—several key points will determine performance:
Adhesive Type (Acrylic vs Hot Melt)
For long-term storage and better aging resistance, water-based acrylic is often preferred. For very strong initial tack on recycled or rough cartons, hot melt systems are usually the better choice.
Thickness and Strength Level
Light office and small-parcel applications may use thinner films, while export and heavy-duty cartons typically require thicker BOPP tape film in the 32–40 µm range or more. CloudFilm can supply multiple thickness options to match your strength and cost targets.
Application Environment
Consider whether your cartons will go through cold chain, high humidity warehouses or high-temperature regions. This will impact both the choice of adhesive and the film grade.
Printing and Branding Requirements
If you need logo-printed tape, confirm surface treatment (corona level), ink compatibility and color options. Many tape converters use dedicated printing films or combine printing and adhesive coating on one line.
Noise, Unwind and Dispenser Compatibility
For office and retail environments, low-noise, smooth-unwind tapes improve user experience. Check that the tape or tape film runs well on your existing dispensers and automatic carton sealers.
If you share your application details—such as carton size and weight, board type, shipping route and application equipment—CloudFilm can help you select suitable BOPP tape film specifications and provide trial jumbo rolls to validate on your coating or slitting lines.
FAQ: Common Questions About BOPP Tape
Q1. Is BOPP tape recyclable?
BOPP tape is based on polypropylene film, so in many markets it can enter PP recycling streams when it is properly collected and sorted. However, local recycling rules and infrastructure vary. For a deeper discussion of BOPP sustainability and recycling, you can refer to CloudFilm’s article “BOPP Recycling: From Challenges to Solutions, Understanding the Circular Future of BOPP”.
Q2. How is BOPP tape different from PVC tape?
PVC tape generally has higher temperature resistance but contains chlorine and is more difficult to recycle. BOPP tape is lighter, usually more cost-effective for high-volume carton sealing and is typically easier to integrate into PP recycling streams, which is why many brands are switching from PVC to BOPP.
Q3. Where can I learn more about BOPP film properties?
If you want to understand the mechanical, optical and barrier properties behind BOPP tape and other packaging films, CloudFilm has a detailed article called “A Complete Guide to BOPP Properties: Performance, Advantages, and Applications”. It explains how BOPP is produced and why it has become a core material in modern flexible packaging.
Conclusion
BOPP (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene) film tapes are renowned for their exceptional strength, durability, and clarity, making them an ideal choice for a wide range of packaging and labeling applications. These tapes offer excellent moisture, chemicals, and abrasion resistance, ensuring the protection and security of packaged goods during transportation and storage.
BOPP film tapes are also favored for their superior adhesive properties, providing a strong and reliable seal on various surfaces. Their high tensile strength and flexibility allow for easy application and handling, while their transparency ensures that packaging aesthetics are maintained.
Additionally, BOPP film tapes are environmentally friendly, as they are recyclable and do not emit harmful substances during production or disposal. With their performance, versatility, and sustainability combination, BOPP film tapes are preferred for businesses and industries seeking efficient and effective packaging solutions.
If you want high-quality BOPP film for tape manufacturing, don’t hesitate to contact us for advice and support.
