Bulk Containers
Bulk containers is a generic term for variously sized boxes, usually plastic, used by retailers and other operations with warehouses to save money on packaging costs and to reduce their output of waste. In contrast to disposable one-use totes and boxes, bulk containers are used for several years and can make multiple trips back and forth from supplier to warehouse. This practice is much more environmentally friendly and is often more cost-efficient as well.
Bulk Container Design
Bulk containers are highly flexible and are designed to store everything from dry goods to flammable liquids. Their name notwithstanding, they are sometimes relatively small, most often in order to safely ship numerous fragile products together while minimizing the risks of breakage and the possibility of one product contaminating the others. Other bulk containers are the side of standard loading pallets or large drums. The term “bulk” is a reference less to size than to such containers' core principle of design, which attempts to maximize the number of products that each container can efficiently carry while still maintaining the integrity of the merchandise. In this way, all products are transported as efficiently as possible.
Features of Bulk Containers
Bulk containers commonly make use of advanced polymer technology to render them highly resilient and flame-resistant. They are usually waterproof (a necessity, in an industry with a fair amount of leakage) and able to withstand the corrosive effects of various chemicals. They have fairly high weight allowances, with a standard three-foot-square container able to hold 1,500 pounds safely. Doors are usually situated on top, but occasionally fold down vertically from the sides. Some bulk containers are collapsible to help save on space. Most are stackable up to several boxes high in order to allow for their easy integration into the warehouse system, and they are often built with sockets below to allow handling by forklifts. They are available in a wide variety of shades for color-coding.
Advantages of Bulk Containers
In addition to the positive ecological impact of their use, bulk containment can often, though not always, assist retailers in cutting costs by taking the place of expensive packaging. However, bulk containers can also drain resources. They require maintenance in the form of cleaning that will divert labor time and raise water bills. Moreover, there is usually a large initial investment in purchasing a large number of bulk containers that many store owners may find off-putting. Fortunately for those unwilling to make this investment without a trial, certain distributors arrange for bulk container rentals instead of direct purchases. This can allow for a gradual switchover from the old system to the new.