When people think of bulk bags, they often think of the builders’ merchant bulk bags used to deliver sand or gravel to construction sites. However, the bags, also known as flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs), actually have a much wider range of uses, thanks to advances in industrial packaging manufacturing. Nowadays, they are used for everything from transporting food to hazardous waste, as the list below shows.

Food and pharmaceuticals bulk bags

These FIBCs are explicitly designed to store and transport food and pharmaceutical products, keeping them free from contaminants and allowing for full production traceability. The bags are produced in sterile, clean-room facilities to strict quality standards.

Anti-static bulk bags

When standard FIBCs are filled up or emptied, they can create a static charge. In most cases, this won’t be a problem. However, in some instances – when they are being used near flammable liquids, for example, or around explosives – a static charge should be avoided. Anti-static bulk bags are ideal for these situations and are known as Type C or D bags (standard bulk bags are known as Type A or B).

Baffle bulk bags

Also known as Q bags, these FIBCs allow you to maximise the volume of goods you can transport because, unlike standard bags, they do not bulge at the sides. This is possible because they are reinforced on all sides so that their structural integrity is maintained. It means that you can get more bags in a van or lorry, which in turns means fewer journeys and reduced transport costs.

Builders merchants’

These bags are called builders’ bags because they are most commonly used by builders and contractors to hold sand, gravel, rubble or aggregate. Many homeowners will be familiar with them when they carry out home improvements and will reuse them to get rid of household waste. The bags come in a number of different grades, and the higher the grade, the more durable the bag. Makers of this industrial packaging will often include a logo on the bag as a marketing tool.

ADR and UN certified bulk bags

When storing or transporting hazardous substances, bags need to comply with The European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) and United Nations standards. This means they have been rigorously tested against what is known as the orange book. The rules require these FIBCs to meet high standards when it comes to tearing, stability or dropping.

PVC bulk bags

The bulk bags with the longest lifespan, PVC bulk bags should be used in harsh conditions, such as severe weather, to protect their contents, as they are specially coated to make them waterproof. The coating means the bags can not only be left outside for extended periods of time, but they can also be used numerous times without tearing or showing signs of damage.

Whatever your specific requirements, thanks to this flexible industrial packaging, there is a bulk bag to meet your needs and those of your customers.