Tear tape

Paperboard mailing envelope showing PSA adhesive with release liner and with tear tape

Closed mailer being opened by pulling tear tape

Tear tape, also known as tearstrip or tear-off ribbon, is a narrow adhesive tape used to open packaging. The backing is often a narrow oriented polymer such as polypropylene but other polymers, yarns, and filaments are also used. Many tear tapes use a pressure sensitive adhesive but others have a heat-activated adhesive system.

Tear tape is usually attached to the inner surface of packaging: paper, paperboard, corrugated fiberboard or plastic film. It is used on common non-durable fast-moving consumer goods such as soft drinks, groceries or toiletries, as well as tobacco products such as cigarettes and cigars, to aid the opening of the packaging. It is also used in courier envelopes and corrugated boxes. Tear tape serves as an easy opening device for the consumer, where it obviates the need for opening tools such as scissors or knives, or the use of excessive force. Tear tape provides a guide on the tear area, thereby allowing more precise opening which reduces product spillage.

Tear tape is available in several constructions and has a variety of uses.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]

References

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^ US 4773541, Riddell, Wilfred E., "Package with tear-away opening including an inner pull strip and outer guide tape", published 1988-09-27, assigned to Kimberly-Clark Corp.
^ US 4558785, Gordon, Robert L., "Tear tape openable container", published 1985-12-17, assigned to International Paper Co.
^ US 3098601, Anderson, Donald C.; Lucas, Malcolm B. & Watrous, Howard N., "Tear tape for thermoplastic packaging materials", published 1963-07-23, assigned to The Procter & Gamble Co.
^ US 6354739, Sheehan, Jr., Richard L.; Miner, Dean A. & Stagg, Timothy V., "Tear control closing tape and container with tear control closing tape", published 2002, assigned to 3M Innovative Properties Co.
^ US 3170619, Repko, John P., "Tear strip packaging", published 1965-02-23, assigned to The Dow Chemical Company

Yam, K. L., Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology, John Wiley & Sons, 2009, ISBN 978-0-470-08704-6

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Materials and components	Adhesive Aluminium foil Bail handle Bioplastic Biodegradable plastic BoPET Bubble wrap Bung Cellophane Closure Coated paper Coating Coextrusion Container glass Corrugated fiberboard Corrugated plastic Cushioning Desiccant Double seam Flip-top Foam peanut Gel pack Hot-melt adhesive Humidity indicator card Kraft paper Label Lid Linear low-density polyethylene Liquid packaging board Living hinge Low-density polyethylene Meat absorbent pad Metallised film Modified atmosphere Molded pulp Nonwoven fabric Overwrap Oxygen scavenger Package handle Packaging gas Pallet Paper Paper pallet Paperboard Plastic-coated paper Plastic film Plastic pallet Plastic wrap Polyester Polyethylene Polypropylene Pressure-sensitive tape Pump dispenser Screw cap Screw cap (wine) Security printing Security tape Shock detector Shock and vibration data logger Shrink wrap Slip sheet Staple (fastener) Strapping Stretch wrap Susceptor Tamper-evident band Tear tape Temperature data logger Time temperature indicator Tinplate Velostat
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