Easy as FIBC: How Bulk Bag Technology Can Boost Sustainability

Have you heard of the packaging term FIBC, bulk bag, or woven bag, but not sure what they are? You are not alone. FIBCs, or Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers, may be new to you, but they have been around for over 60 years. They’ve made a name for themselves as a sustainable and cost-effective solution to packaging, storing and transporting certain types of goods.

What are they used for?

FIBCs are used to safely package, store and transport loose, granular products like sand and powders. They can be used to replace large, corrugated boxes and gaylords to store and transport products, sometimes without the use of a pallet, with the added benefit of flexibility, adjusting for different packaging processes and space constraints.

Additionally, products in bulk bags can be easily discharged into secondary containers- like hoppers- using “stop bottom” technology that can be manually opened to empty the product into smaller containers for easy packaging.

Because of their woven technology, FIBCs can safely handle corrosives, food grade products, and combustible products. This makes FIBCs effective for use in various industries, like food processing, chemical compounding, and resin-based plastic manufacturing.
 

Benefits of Using FIBC Bags

Sustainability

• Used FIBCs can be recycled quickly and reverted to plastic pellet form, and then recycled for use in plastic car parts, paint cans, and clothing.
• In some cases, FIBCs can be reused multiple times, helping to reduce costs, waste, and purchasing frequency.
• Their package-to-product ratio lends itself to more fuel-efficient transportation.

Cost and Space Reduction

• The average FIBC costs less than half of a comparably sized corrugated gaylord, resulting in a cost savings of more than 50%.
• FIBCs allow for low storage requirements. On average, 200 FIBC bags come on one pallet. Compare this to the same size gaylord box, which can be packed at only 25-30 per pallet. One pallet of FIBCs can hold the equivalent to more than 6 pallets of gaylord boxes. That’s a decrease of almost 85% in needed storage space.

Efficient Transportation

• FIBCs typically come with four loop handles at each corner for easy lifting.
• Some FIBCs have large side loops made for forklifts to easily move throughout warehouses, or to load and offload trucks, eliminating the need for pallets.

Emergency Preparedness

• In cases of emergencies like extreme flooding, FIBC bags can be used to create dams or filter water using the de-watering bags.

Learn how FIBCs might benefit your packaging business with BradyPLUS. Contact us today to get started.