Printed bio-based barrier tape

Printed bio-based barrier tape

Since 2007, we have been the go-to wholesaler for printed barrier tape – and this bio-based version lets you source that cordon responsibly as well. The film is made for more than 80% from renewable raw materials instead of crude oil, while on site you will notice little difference: the tape pulls taut, can be printed in up to four colours and is suitable for indoor and outdoor use.

That makes it the obvious choice for organisations with concrete sustainability targets, for municipalities and events working to green procurement criteria, and for companies that want their CSR policy to be visible on site as well. Your logo or warning message runs continuously along the full length of the roll, exactly as you would expect from printed tape.

Where the material comes from

Conventional barrier tape is made of LDPE, a polyethylene derived from crude oil or natural gas. This tape is built on a bioplastic based on a starch blend, so the raw material largely comes from the field rather than from a well. That reduces the share of fossil feedstock in your supply chain – precisely what sustainability reporting asks about.

Renewable crops instead of crude oil

The renewable fraction comes from crops such as sugar cane and from starch. These regrow within one or a few growing seasons, whereas crude oil is not replenished on any human timescale. With a bio-based content of more than 80%, the balance of the formulation clearly sits on that renewable side. The remainder consists of components needed to give the film the tensile strength and workability you expect from barrier tape.

Bio-based is not the same as compostable

This distinction matters and is frequently blurred in the market. Bio-based describes the origin of the raw material: renewable rather than fossil. Compostable or biodegradable describes the end of life: whether the material is broken down by micro-organisms under particular conditions. These are two independent properties; a material may have one without the other.

For this tape we therefore claim only the first. The tape is over 80% bio-based. We do not state that it is compostable, biodegradable or home compostable, and we hold no label or certification for it. So please do not treat the tape as green waste and do not put it in an organic waste bin.

For disposal after use the advice is simple: follow local regulations and check with your waste contractor which stream applies to this material. They know the separation rules that apply at your location. If you need written substantiation for a tender or a sustainability report, get in touch and we will look together at what information we can supply.

Specifications

Applications and sustainable purchasing

On the job this tape does what every barrier tape does: it marks an excavation, a reserved parking bay, a closed walkway or a hazard zone in the warehouse. Outdoors you span it between barrier posts, fencing or trees; indoors you fix it with tape or cable ties.

The difference lies on the purchasing side. More and more clients ask in tenders about the share of renewable raw materials in consumables – and barrier tape in particular is consumed by the hundreds of metres. Municipalities, utility network operators, event organisers and contractors with a CSR programme choose this tape because it is a visible and explainable step: it hangs literally at eye level around the work. If your client asks for substantiation, one clear sentence about the bio-based content is usually enough – provided you do not confuse that sentence with compostability, as explained above.

Printing and appearance

The tape is white, which is the most favourable base for a print: every ink colour shows up well, so you are free to use your corporate colours. Printing is single-sided in up to four colours, which leaves room for a logo with a pictogram and a short warning message alongside. The print runs continuously along the whole roll, so your message stays visible over the entire cordon.

The procedure is the same as for the rest of our printed barrier tape: you supply your logo or text, preferably as a vector file, we send you a print layout at actual width, and once you approve it the tape goes into production. Do bear in mind that a natural raw material can turn out a shade less bright white than standard film; the print layout shows you in advance how your design sits on it.

Ordering, delivery and related products

The minimum order is 1500 metres: 6 rolls of 250 metres. Because every printed tape is produced specifically for you, a production lead time applies; we state the current delivery time with your quotation. Are you ordering stock items from our range alongside it? Ordered on working days before 3:30 PM? Then your order will be shipped the same day. Enjoy free delivery on orders over €75 excl. VAT.

Would you rather start smaller, or do you not need a bespoke print at all? Take a look at unprinted barrier tape or at our wider barrier tape range, where standard-text tape is available per roll. For cordons you set up again and again, a reusable demarcation system is the more resource-efficient alternative, because the tape retracts into its cassette every time.

Do you have questions about which size of printed barrier tape is best suited to your situation? Please don't hesitate to contact us — by phone on +31 184 – 614256, via info@kortpack.nl or via WhatsApp.

Frequently asked questions about printed bio-based barrier tape

What exactly does “bio-based” mean, and is this tape compostable?

Bio-based means the raw material is renewable: for this tape more than 80% of the composition comes from crops such as sugar cane and from starch instead of crude oil. That says nothing about degradability. We therefore do not claim that this tape is compostable or biodegradable, and no label or certification is attached to it. Treat it as a plastic product, not as green waste.

How do I dispose of the tape after use?

Follow local regulations and check with your waste contractor which stream applies to this material. Waste rules differ by municipality, by country and by collector, and your contractor can tell you how this blend is processed at their facility. We deliberately do not name a fixed waste stream, because we cannot guarantee it for your location.

Is this tape as strong as ordinary LDPE barrier tape?

For the purpose barrier tape serves – a temporary, highly visible marking – this tape performs perfectly well: it can be pulled taut between posts, fencing or trees and stays in place. For very long spans or rough handling we recommend keeping the distance between fixing points shorter than you would with heavy LDPE tape.

Can the tape stay outdoors for longer periods in sun and rain?

The tape is suitable for indoor and outdoor use and is intended for temporary cordons. For the duration of a project or an event that is no problem. If a marking stays up for months in full sun and rain, inspect it periodically and replace the tape as soon as it fades or weakens; for permanent marking we recommend fixed signage.

Does printing offer the same options as on ordinary film?

Yes, under the same rules as our other printed tape: up to four spot colours, single-sided, supplied as a vector file. Gradients and photographic images are not possible. Because the base is white, you are free in your choice of ink colours. The print layout at actual width shows you beforehand how the result works out on this material.