The e-commerce market has experienced an unprecedented and exponential wave of growth in recent years that has elevated the role of packaging from just a means of transportation to a symbol of a brand's image and values. However, massive growth also comes with massive waste. Fifty percent of the plastic we use is single-use plastic, meaning it is used once and then thrown away. According to the United Nations, the amount of plastic discarded each year takes 20-500 years to degrade fully. Consumers are increasingly reacting to these statistics by asking for greater transparency from consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands and their packaging suppliers.
In fact, 35% of U.S. Millennials and Gen Z actively avoid buying brands online that ship in non-recyclable packaging. This shift in consumer attitude inspired H.B. Fuller's experts to work on reinventing e-commerce packaging and helping to create a more sustainable future.
Introducing Open Sesame® fiber-based tear tapes
Step ahead of the competition and meet your sustainability goals and consumers' ever-rising expectations with our global, patent-pending, Open Sesame® fiber-based tear tapes. This industry-leading innovation, designed to promote sustainable e-commerce packaging, is the first of its kind. Unlike other plastic tapes, our sustainable fiber-based solution recycles directly with the board and adds usable fiber to the recycling stream, supporting the circular economy. Our product is certified sustainably sourced by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
How is this product different than a standard packaging design using plastic tapes?
Because our solution is fiber-based and contains no synthetic fibers, it can be recycled directly with the board in a mono-material paper recycling process. It is made from sustainably-sourced, fresh, wood-based fibers (certified by FSC). Unlike traditional plastic film tape, it:
Enhanced Consumer Experience
With the increase in goods being shipped directly to the consumer, their doorsteps are the new retail shelf. It is more critical to redesign packaging to provide a premium experience for the consumer. We believe sustainability is about creating value for the environment and the customer, which is why our team ensured Open Sesame® fiber-based tear tapes are designed for a thrilling “unboxing experience” for everyday packages used to ship goods from e-tailer to consumer, including:
Designing sustainable packaging can seem overwhelming, but H.B. Fuller is here to help develop innovative e-commerce packaging designs that help our customers stand out. We have a full range of e-commerce packaging solutions, including adhesives, coatings, tapes and equipment, and our experts continue to develop sustainable and circular designs for tomorrow’s packaging solutions.
*Externally validated in accordance with Fibre Box Association Repulpability Part I Voluntary Standard at Western Michigan University across several commonly found e-commerce packages.
**Results are equipment, flute, and board weight dependent and subject to variability.
Explore our comprehensive range of sustainable packaging solutions and applications, including technical documentation.
