5 Reasons You Should Avoid Using Used Bulk Bags (second Hand Bags)
Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers (FIBC), also known as bulk bags, are a cost-effective bulk packaging solution. But the market for cheap "second-hand bulk bags" has begun to develop.
Although saving money is an attractive option for businesses of all ranges, we still encourage you to be extra careful when considering using these cheaper used bulk bags. Not only are most bulk bags not manufactured for multiple purposes, but the safe reuse of bulk bags is a complicated and tedious process. These are 5 reasons why we should avoid using used bulk bags.
1. Not all bulk bags can be used multiple times.
Most woven polypropylene bulk bags are single use. These single use bags have a safety factor ratio (SFR) of 5:1, which means they can withstand five times their safe working load (SWL) capacity. Some bulk bags are manufactured for multiple purposes. These multi-travel bags have a rated safety factor of 6:1, which means they can withstand six times their rated safe working load.
Using a single travel bag multiple times can be very dangerous and lead to an unsafe working environment. When buying second-hand bulk bags, how do you ensure that you actually get a 6:1 bag? More importantly, are the ways and methods of use of the bag correct? These are difficult questions to answer when buying used bags.
2. Reusable bulk bags should be used in a closed loop system.
Even if you can verify that the used bag you purchased is a 6:1 SFR bag, Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container Association (also known as FIBCA) recommends using multiple-use in a closed loop system and filling and unloading them each time After the bag is taken out, it is cleaned, refurbished and qualified, ready for reuse. The bag should also be used to store or transport the same product in the same application every time.
3. It may cause contaminate if the bags loading different products.
Bulk bags must not contain different types of products or materials. Every bulk bag (whether it is a multi-use bag or a disposable bag) is made for the transportation and storage of a product. Dragging different products into the bag may cause contamination of said products, which may have catastrophic consequences for your business, especially in food-grade applications.
4. For your application, bulk bags may not be the best choice.
FIBC has various shapes and sizes, and is highly customizable. Each bag can be specially manufactured to meet each user's unique applications. With various filling and unloading options, cubic feet of capacity, safe working load, etc., it may provide your company with a better choice of bags, and you may miss these bags by buying used bags.
In order to maximize the use of bulk bags, please work with experts to determine which bag type is suitable for your products and application, and avoid using previously used bags.
5. Bulk bags will degrade when exposed to strong ultraviolet rays, so used bulk bags become a potential safety hazard.
FIBC is usually used outdoors and exposed to various elements. When exposed to strong ultraviolet light, the bulk bag may begin to degrade, thereby damaging the structural integrity of the bag, resulting in unsafe use. What's more disturbing is that it is difficult for untrained eyes to see the traces of an unsafe bag, and if there is no very thorough inspection and rigorous testing, it can be dangerous to use a used bag.
