Stick with It — How Smart Tape Choices Keep Your Supply Chain Flowing During the Holiday Rush

It's that time of the year again, and if you're like most businesses, you're probably thinking about how to make the most out of it (sales-wise). Luckily for you, this period usually comes with a sudden surge in orders. To keep up with this demand, companies usually go into strategy mode: more hands on deck, newer logistics software, longer shifts - the works.

Amidst the flurry of activity, supply chain teams usually overlook one seemingly tiny but important detail: shipping tape. When temperatures drop, adhesive is more likely to fail. The result? Damaged packages, delays, returns, and disappointed customers. That's why it's important to zoom in and make sure you choose the right holiday shipping tape from the get-go, so your packages stay secure and look professional. In this article, we delve into the ins and outs of packaging tape and how Tape Jungle stands out as the most reliable partner.

The Hidden Costs of Poor Tape Choices

For many businesses, holiday shipping tape is usually an afterthought. Don't fall into this trap because if you do, you risk several issues, including popped seams, brittle seals, and residue issues in cold environments. These problems are likely to occur during the holiday rush due to a combination of cold weather, humidity, and non-stop movement.

Environmental conditions directly affect tape adhesives. In low temperatures, the adhesive in certain packaging tapes tends to lose its tackiness and flexibility. In others, the adhesive becomes brittle and fails when exposed to stress. The same happens when there's low humidity - cracks form in the adhesive layer.

Using the wrong holiday shipping tape creates problems beyond just broken seals. It can affect your bottom line by causing further problems, such as:

• Tampering and Theft: Brittle seals can encourage thieves to look through your packages for valuable items during transit. This is more likely to happen if you don't use branded tape.
• Brand Reputation Damage: If your customers receive their orders with the tape failing or visible tampering, it will reflect poorly on your brand. You may have to deal with returns (at your cost), replacements, or lost customers altogether.
• Operational Inefficiency: If you're using substandard holiday shipping tape, you may need to apply it repeatedly so that it holds the package or resort to manual reinforcement. This slows down your supply chain, especially if your staff processes hundreds of packages at a time.

Understanding Tape Adhesives and Backings

Choosing the best holiday shipping tape starts with understanding the adhesive formulation and backing materials that create the sealing solution. How well these two components work together determines if the packaging tape you use will thrive or struggle during the holiday rush and under extreme temperatures and conditions.

Here's a quick look at some common adhesives used for packaging tapes:

Rubber

This type of adhesive is usually used in PVC carton sealing tapes and Polypropylene tapes. It also bonds well with several materials, including paper, leather, and fabrics. Rubber adhesive provides a combination of flexibility, strength, and clean removal. Key features include:

• It performs well in temperatures from 14°F to 113°F (-10°C to 45°C).
• Tapes made from rubber adhesive have good water resistance.
• It is non-conductive, hence best for making electrical tapes.

Acrylic

Unlike natural rubber adhesive, this type of adhesive is usually synthetically made. Acrylic adhesive can withstand high humidity, temperatures, UV light, chemicals, and oxidation, depending on how it's made. It's transparent and ages well, which means it can secure packages for a long time. You can use acrylic carton sealing tape for long-distance transits and refrigerated shipping.

Hot-melt

Many tapes on the market use this adhesive. Made of thermoplastic polymers, hot-melt adhesive has excellent holding power and tensile strength. Compared to an acrylic adhesive, a hot-melt adhesive is more durable. It can also withstand temperature fluctuations without becoming brittle or warping. Its features make it ideal for use in high-volume operations and mixed environments.

Packaging Under Pressure - Selecting the Right Carton Sealing Tape

When trying to keep up with the increased demand during the holiday season, the last thing you should worry about is the packaging tape. During this season, your customers expect fast shipments and packages reaching them in top-notch condition. But more often than not, many fulfillment centers end up dealing with reseals and wasted time during packaging. Therefore, selecting carton sealing tape that holds up is extremely crucial.

For instance, if you need a strong tape for everyday shipping and standard temperature environments, you can use Tape Jungle's Poly Pro Carton Sealing Tape. It offers quick tack and a clean release for smooth, efficient application.

If you're shipping heavy or high-value items, the PVC Carton Sealing Tape can be a great option. It's durable with a tensile strength of 42 lbs/in and temperature resistance of up to 158°F. For sustainability purposes, the Reinforced Gummed Paper Tape can come in handy while still offering durability.

Also worth noting is that your shipments won't always be the same - they'll vary. For instance, one line might handle standard boxes while another handles refrigerated or long-distance freight. In such a case, you can use different adhesives for each. Quick-grab rubber options can help speed up dry warehouse packaging, while slow-bond acrylics can hold strong through cold storage and transit extremes.

Custom Printed Tapes - Efficiency and Branding in One

In a sea of plain brown boxes, your brand deserves to stand out. You can achieve this with custom printed packing tape. During the holidays, custom-printed tape can act as a double-edged (in this case, multiple-edged) sword.

It can help your team identify orders faster and reduce the risk of tampering. It can also turn every shipment into a branded touchpoint, simply by having your brand's logo or key message. Even better, it can help preserve the quality of the items by bearing a "Fragile" warning, so that it's handled with care during shipping.

Tape Jungle offers a Custom Printed Tape service, which lets you print your logo, handling instructions, or even festive designs on several types of backings, including Poly Pro, PVC, and paper.

Reinforced Paper and Water-Activated (Gummed) Tapes for Heavy Loads

Sustainability is quickly growing among customer bases. Therefore, using standard holiday shipping tape isn't exactly ideal anymore. To ensure that your brand is environmentally conscious, you're better off using specialized tapes, such as Water-Activated Tapes from Tape Jungle.

These tapes create an exceptionally strong bond through a simple application process involving moisture or water. When applied, the adhesive penetrates the cardboard fibers and creates a permanent bond with the carton itself. The resulting material becomes even stronger than the original cardboard. This also becomes ideal for shipping heavy loads, which would otherwise rip if you use standard tape.

Optimizing Fulfillment Lines and Ergonomics

If your staff handles hundreds, if not thousands, of boxes in a day during the holiday season, they can quickly become overwhelmed, exhausted, and unmotivated. You can make this period a little less tough on them by taking into consideration the holiday shipping tape and equipment design.

For instance, quiet-release PVC tapes can help you reduce the constant noise that comes from your fulfillment centers. You can also leverage tools like Tape Jungle's tape dispensers and automated applicators to help make sealing less physically demanding and also minimize the risk of potential injuries that may occur among unseasoned staff during taping.

Sometimes, a quick training session for seasonal and existing staff can dramatically improve tape effectiveness. You can share tips, such as ensuring boxes are clean and dry before applying tape, overlapping at least two inches past the edge for extra hold, and using an "H" pattern for heavier boxes to ensure maximum reinforcement.

Building Holiday Resilience Into Your Packaging Plan

Running out of holiday shipping tape right in the middle of the season can bring your entire supply chain to a standstill. Even worse, settling for whatever's available can lead to weak seals or incompatible adhesives that can't handle cold storage.

So, before peak season hits, run a quick tape audit:

• Are your current tapes rated for cold-weather use?
• Do you have enough machine-grade rolls for automation lines?
• Are your custom-printed tapes in production with lead time to spare?

Ready to get started? Tape Jungle has everything you need as you shop for holiday shipping tape that best fits your packages, shipping processes, and environment. And if you're not sure which products work for your specific scenario, our experts understand the nuances of adhesive chemistry, surface types, and application methods. When you contact us, we'll ensure your tape lineup matches your workload.

Stick With It

When everything's on the line - from customer satisfaction to brand reputation - it's often the smallest details that hold the most weight. In this case, literally. So, in choosing the right holiday shipping tape, you not only seal boxes, but also protect your workflow, your product, and your peace of mind.

At Tape Jungle, we can make that a reality for you. With over 300 types of industrial packaging tapes, we've got every adhesive solution you need to ship smarter and faster this season.

Keep your supply chain moving. Explore Tape Jungle's full range of packaging tape for cold weather, ranging from carton sealing and reinforced paper to custom printed tapes designed to perform under holiday pressure.