A computer-implemented method for increasing the longevity of archival tape may include suspending, by a scheduling computing system, an initiation of a read/write process for an archival tape. The method may also include reading a tape status stored on a status tag embedded on a cartridge of the archival tape. In addition, the method may include deducing, by the scheduling computing system, a health status of the archival tape from the tape status. Furthermore, the method may include adjusting, by the scheduling computing system, a read/write policy of the archival tape based on the health status. Finally, the method may include completing the read/write process of the archival tape based on the adjusted read/write policy. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.