Water activated tape is not one product, it is a family of grades built for different jobs: standard kraft for everyday cartons, reinforced grades with fibreglass filaments for heavy or stacked loads, and biodegradable recycled grades for businesses prioritising sustainability credentials. Buying the wrong one is the most common reason a business tries WAT once, has a seal fail, and goes back to plastic tape. This is a practical buying guide to the water activated tapes Carewell Group supplies and which one fits your cartons.
How water activated tape works, briefly
Water activated tape, also called gummed paper tape, is a kraft paper tape coated with a starch-based adhesive. Wet the adhesive, press it onto the carton, and it bonds into the surface fibres of the board as it dries. Done correctly, the tape becomes stronger than the carton itself: try to peel it and the board tears before the tape lets go. This is why it holds through freight handling far better than a light pass of plastic tape, and why it cannot be removed and reapplied without visible damage, which also makes it a tamper-evident seal. The full mechanics are covered in how water activated tape works.
The grades, compared
| Grade | Best for | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Standard kraft | Everyday cartons up to medium weight | The base grade: plain kraft paper and starch adhesive, no reinforcement. |
| Reinforced (fibreglass filament) | Heavy, dense or stacked cartons, export and long-haul freight | Woven glass filaments embedded in the tape add tensile strength along the length, so the seal resists splitting under load. See reinforced vs non-reinforced water activated tape. |
| Biodegradable recycled reinforced | Businesses that need reinforced strength and a lower-impact material | Recycled paper content and a biodegradable construction, still with reinforcement for heavy cartons. |
| Printed / branded | Any of the above, when the seal should carry your logo | Custom print turns the seal into branding and a visible tamper-evidence feature. See branded water activated tape. |
How to choose
- Weigh your heaviest realistic carton. Light to medium cartons (up to roughly 15 to 20 kg, well packed) generally seal well with standard kraft grade. Heavier, denser or export cartons need reinforced tape.
- Check your stacking and transit. If cartons are palletised and stacked, or travel a long domestic or export route with multiple handling points, reinforced grade is the safer default even at moderate weight.
- Decide if sustainability credentials matter to your buyers. If they do, the biodegradable recycled reinforced grade gives you the strength of a reinforced tape with a lower-impact story to tell.
- Decide if the seal should be branded. If unboxing matters to your customers, add custom print to whichever grade you land on. It does not change the sealing performance.
- Match the dispenser. Any of these grades need a water activated tape dispenser, manual or electronic, to apply consistently. See the dispenser guide if you do not already run one.
For sizing width and roll length once you have picked a grade, see water activated tape sizes.
Getting the seal right, whichever grade you choose
- Wet it properly. Under-wetting is the most common cause of a weak seal, regardless of grade.
- Use an H-pattern. One strip across the centre seam, one across each end, top and bottom, for cartons carrying any real weight.
- Test for fibre tear. Once dry, try to lift a corner. If the board surface tears with the tape, the seal is good. If the tape lifts clean, see how to use water activated tape to diagnose why.
How Carewell Group helps
Carewell Group is an Australian packaging manufacturer and supplier. We supply the full range covered above as stock and custom-printed product, plus the dispensers to apply it:
- Water activated kraft paper tape, the standard grade for everyday cartons.
- Reinforced water activated kraft paper tape, fibreglass-filament reinforced for heavy and stacked loads.
- Biodegradable recycled reinforced water activated tape, reinforced strength with recycled content.
- Custom-printed tape in any of the above grades, and manual and electronic dispensers.
Not sure which grade suits your cartons? Send us your carton weight, stacking and freight lane and we will recommend a grade and width. Carewell can meet all your packaging needs for your business. Talk to our expert and we will work to your required MOQ. Call +61 (02) 8760 1491 or request samples.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the water activated tape grades?
Standard kraft suits everyday cartons. Reinforced grades add woven fibreglass filaments for heavy, dense or stacked loads. Biodegradable recycled reinforced grades combine that reinforcement with recycled, lower-impact material.
Which grade should I use for export or long-haul freight?
Reinforced grade, or the biodegradable recycled reinforced grade if sustainability credentials also matter, because the added filament strength resists splitting through multiple handling points.
Can water activated tape be custom printed?
Yes, in any grade. Printed tape brands the seal and adds a visible tamper-evidence feature without changing the sealing performance.
Do I need a special dispenser for reinforced tape?
The same manual or electronic water activated tape dispensers handle both standard and reinforced grades; check the dispenser is rated for the tape width and roll size you choose.
Sources
- ASTM D5570, water resistance of tape and adhesives used as box closure.
- Fibre Box Association, corrugated packaging and carton sealing guidance: fibrebox.org
Written by Alif Vasaya, digital and content strategy, Carewell Group. Carewell Group is an Australian packaging, food packaging, tape, industrial safety and 3PL supplier serving all of Australia. Last updated 14 September 2026.