Products · flexible
Bulk bags: read the ratio before anything else.
- Common safe working loads
- About 1,500 – 4,000 lb
- Ratios
- 5:1 and 6:1
- Availability
- Through partner suppliers
Ask about bag supply
Tell us the product, fill weight, discharge method and whether you need a 6:1 bag. A partner supplier follows up.
Answer first
The ratio is the entire safety conversation.
A 5:1 FIBC is built to be filled once. A 6:1 is built to be filled repeatedly: heavier fabric, reinforced loops, stronger seams. Reusing a 6:1 bag that is in sound condition is common. Reusing a 5:1 bag for a second duty cycle is not what it was designed for, whatever it looks like.
When you ask a supplier about any bag, ask for four things: the original ratio, the inspection history, what it previously held, and whether the spec panel is still legible. If any of those is missing, consider a different bag.
Configurations
Common bag types and what they suit.
| Type | Top | Bottom | Typical SWL | Typical ratio | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Duffel | Spout | About 2,000 – 2,500 lb | 6:1 for multi-trip | Resin, granulate, aggregate, minerals |
| Open top / flat bottom | Open | Flat | About 2,000 lb | 6:1 for multi-trip | Scrap, waste, demolition, agriculture |
| Spout top / spout bottom | Spout | Spout | About 2,000 – 3,000 lb | 6:1 for multi-trip | Dust-tight powders and fine product |
| Baffled bag | Duffel | Spout | About 2,500 lb | 6:1 for multi-trip | Square-hold shape for better trailer cube |
| Single-trip | Duffel | Flat | About 3,000 lb | 5:1 | One-way outbound shipments only |
Used bags
What to ask about a used bag.
- 01
Ask about history
Where were the bags used, and what did they hold? Unknown history is a reason to walk away.
- 02
Ask about cleaning and drying
A damp FIBC in storage is a mould problem waiting to happen. Ask how the bags were cleaned and dried.
- 03
Ask about inspection
Loops, seams, UV degradation, spout condition and any mending. Ask what the supplier rejects.
- 04
Ask for records you can check
Ask what documentation comes with the lot, and decide whether it meets your own quality requirements.
Questions
Bulk bags, answered.
Is a used bulk bag safe to reuse?
What does 5:1 and 6:1 mean?
Bag or box: which should I use?
Can I sell used bulk bags?
Anatomy
The parts of an FIBC, and which ones fail.
Bulk bags fail at predictable places. Knowing them turns an inspection from a glance into a quick, useful check.
- Lift loops
- Take the entire load. Check the stitching where the loop meets the body, and check for UV degradation. The loops are usually the most exposed part.
- Body fabric
- Woven polypropylene. Loses tensile strength under ultraviolet light without changing colour or feel, which is why storage history matters as much as fill history.
- Seams
- Where 6:1 construction differs most from 5:1. Look for stitch density and any mending. A documented fix is a different matter from an undocumented one.
- Fill spout
- Top opening. Fraying and contamination collect here first, and it is the part most often damaged during filling.
- Discharge spout
- Bottom opening with tie-off. Check the tie cord and the spout closure for wear. A failed discharge spout empties the bag on the floor.
- Baffles
- Internal panels that hold a square shape for better trailer cube. Baffled bags are harder to inspect internally and worth asking about specifically.
- Liner
- Optional internal film for moisture or fine powder. A liner does not turn a 5:1 bag into a multi-trip bag.
- Document pouch
- Where the spec panel and any paperwork live. Missing pouches are why many used bags have unknown ratios.
- Spec panel
- Printed safe working load and safety factor. It fades, tears and gets cut off, which is exactly how the used market got its reputation.
Inspection
A quick check anyone can do on arrival.
Run this on a sample of every delivery, from any supplier. It catches most of what matters.
On every sampled bag
- Find the spec panel. Read the safety factor. If there is no panel, ask before filling.
- Pull each lift loop firmly and look at the stitching where it meets the body.
- Run a hand down each seam feeling for loose or missing stitches.
- Check the fabric for chalky surface texture, an early sign of UV degradation.
- Open and close the discharge spout; check the tie cord for fraying.
- Look inside for residue, staining or a previous liner left in place.
- Smell it. Any odour at all means it goes back.
- Check any paperwork matches the lot in front of you.
Bag or box
A direct comparison, with no thumb on the scale.
| Attribute | Bulk bag (6:1) | 5-wall gaylord | Usually better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty storage footprint | Folds to almost nothing | Flattens, but takes more room | Bag |
| Empty weight | Light | Heavier | Bag |
| Stacking without a frame | Poor, needs support | Stacks loaded, within its rating | Box |
| Discharge control | Excellent with a spout | Needs tipping or vacuum | Bag |
| Protection of fragile product | Minimal | Substantial | Box |
| Moisture resistance | Good with liner | Poor without storage discipline | Bag |
| Inspection burden | High, safety critical | Lower | Box |
| End-of-life route | Plastics recycling where accepted | Corrugated recycling where accepted | Depends on local facilities |
Ask for the ratio and the history before you ask for the price.
Any reputable FIBC supplier should be able to tell you both. Send your spec and a partner supplier follows up.