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MonMay 27

National Cellophane Tape Day – May 27, 2024

National Cellophane Tape Day is celebrated on May 27 every year to commemorate the invention of one of the most practical things ever i.e., cellophane tape. Cellophane tape is used for something that is very important for the world of today — to bring things together.

History of National Cellophane Tape Day

National Cellophane Tape Day is celebrated every year on May 27 to acknowledge the huge role that cellophane tape has played in our lives. Perhaps the most popular among stationery items, its absence would surely have made our lives a lot harder. It is thanks to cellophane tape that we can wrap gifts, do our crafts for class assignments and projects, and so forth. Something this useful deserves its own day and this is why we have National Cellophane Tape Day.

The invention of cellophane tape has been credited to Richard Gurley Drew. He began his career in 1920 at the 3M company based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Here, Drew developed masking tape for automobiles in 1925. However, it was in 1929 that he got the idea of using the then-recently-invented cellophane to make tape. Cellophane is a moisture-proof substance that was used for wrapping grocery items and baked goods. Drew was looking to create a tape made of cellophane that would seal packaging and at the same time blend in without being visible.

Cellophane tape was originally named Scotch Cellulose Tape. Then it was renamed to Scotch Transparent Tape. It received the name ‘Scotch’ when a body-shop painter, while testing the tape, yelled in frustration “Take this tape back to those Scotch bosses of yours and tell them to put more adhesive on it!”

Cellophane tape was revealed to the public and its marketing began on January 31, 1930. It was patented in the same year on May 27. This date has thus been chosen as National Cellophane Tape Day.

National Cellophane Tape Day timeline

1925
Scotch Masking Tape

Richard Gurley Drew starts marketing masking tape under the name Scotch Masking Tape.

1930
Commercial Tape

The first cellophane tape that is viable for commercial use is produced.

1932
The Cutter Blade

A dispenser for cellophane tape, along with a cutter blade, begins being marketed.

1939
The Tape Dispenser

The now-popular hand-held (snail-shaped) tape dispenser is created for commercial use.

National Cellophane Tape Day FAQs

Do they still make cellophane tape?

Yes, cellophane tape is still around and produced today. 

What does cellophane tape mean?

Cellophane is a thin, biodegradable transparent sheet made of regenerated cellulose.

What is cellophane tape made of?

As its name suggests, cellophane tape is made of a bioplastic that is sourced from cotton, wood pulp, and other natural fibers. 

How to Celebrate National Cellophane Tape Day

  1. Find out more about cellophane

    Find out more about this interesting piece of stationery. Look up its various types, uses, and history.

  2. Put it to good use

    National Cellophane Tape Day is the perfect day to put this tape to good use. Repair shoelace ends that are frayed, fix broken glasses, stick the tape over labels to avoid smudges, and more.

  3. Share on social media

    Share what you did with your tape on National Cellophane Tape Day on social media. Use the hashtag #NationalCellophaneTapeDay.

5 Facts About Tape That You Didn’t Know

  1. X-Ray tape

    In 1953, research by Soviet scientists revealed that if cellophane tape is put in a vacuum and peeled off, it produces X-rays.

  2. All-American tape

    More than 90% of U.S. homes, as well as businesses, use masking tape for various purposes.

  3. Not just a few different types

    Today, there are more than 400 kinds of tapes made such as packaging tape, electrical tape, transparent tape, tape for labels, and more.

  4. Duct tape

    Manufactured during WWII, duct tape was originally called ‘duck tape’ by the soldiers due to the tape’s ability to repel moisture just like “water off a duck’s back.”

  5. Tape for eggs

    Sometimes ornithologists made use of Scotch tape to cover the cracks formed on the soft shells of fertilized eggs of pigeons, thereby allowing them to hatch.

Why National Cellophane Tape Day Is Significant

  1. It acknowledges tape’s importance

    The day acknowledges the importance of cellophane tape in our daily lives. It is a reminder of the multiple uses it offers.

  2. It celebrates the discovery

    The day celebrates the discovery of cellophane tape by Richard Drew. Without his efforts, who knows how we would have so easily fixed things that are broken.

  3. It celebrates what we take for granted

    The day celebrates the significant role that cellophane tape plays in all our lives. Be it for kids or adults, cellophane tape always comes in handy in one way or the other.

National Cellophane Tape Day dates

YearDateDay
2024May 27Monday
2025May 27Tuesday
2026May 27Wednesday
2027May 27Thursday
2028May 27Saturday

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