Issue Date:  23 July 2009

Leading tear tape manufacturer Payne believes that advances in design and application have made tear tape a versatile medium that can meet both the easy opening and branding & communications needs of the bagged food category.

“Tear tape can be applied to a range of products which use plastic or paper bags as primary packaging – including confectionery and pet food,” explains Michael Love, Category Manager – Tear Tape at Payne.  “Its particular value lies in its multi-functionality, enabling pack easy opening along with the ability to communicate with the consumer at the point of use.”

Payne’s printing expertise facilitates the creation of message tapes for brand reinforcement or promotional purposes – a cost effective, flexible alternative to printing directly on the bag or sack.  The latest innovation is Payne’s Supastrip VDP variable data tear tape, which enables the printing of unique codes on the tear tape’s reverse for use in brand promotions.  This presents a significant advantage for bagged applications, as the code remains hidden until the pack is opened and then places the promotion directly into the consumers’ hands as a natural consequence of opening the pack.

For bagged confectionery, tear tape can be applied to the vertical edge making it an ideal carrier for brand or product promotions. This also enables it to provide easy opening for the increasingly popular share pack, which is printed in landscape format to encourage opening along the length of the bag providing a helpful and appealing aid to the consumer.

Tear tape can also be used to replace string used to open the paper sacks used for dry pet food or cat litter products.  In addition to being stronger, safer and tidier than string methods, tear tape provides an opportunity to promote – for example, new brands or product extensions – without the need to print directly onto the sack.

Industrial packaging for flour or other powders in paper sacks can benefit from the application of tear tape to the base of the sack. This enables end users to suspend the sack vertically and use the tape to open the base cleanly, quickly and without knives, allowing the contents to be emptied as required.

Payne is now looking to promote these developments into other bagged sectors, following the successful completion of a comprehensive new product development (NPD) survey.  “Our researchers spoke to employees across a number of companies to determine the key packaging drivers and trends affecting the future of bagged foods,” confirms Michael Love.  “Developments into new opportunities and innovations are underway to ensure we meet the easy opening and communications needs within the bagged food category.”