It may be confusing when researching options for transporting chemicals, janitorial materials, and more. Pails are made of different materials from metals to different types of plastics, can be sealed in a multitude of ways, and can be FDA approved, or UN certified. This article is a short guide to find the right kind of packaging pail for you!
Plastic pails are lightweight and work for adhesives, construction materials, paints, and agricultural chemicals, and more.
Most plastic pails are made from recyclable FDA approved high-density polyethylene, meaning that they are great to use for consumable materials such as pet food. The material is more flexible than glass and metal. Both plastic and metal are recyclable, but plastic takes up less energy in the recycling process.
Metal pails are stronger and ideal for flammable and combustible products.
The Air Sea Containers Compliance Blog outlined the pros of using metal pails, noting that metal can withstand higher temperatures and pressures. Metal provides a perfect barrier against gas, oxygen, and other possible contaminants. The can be used with any non-reactant substance.
For clean and easy transportation, tight head pails are another option. As their name implies, they include perforated or solid mold caps to keep liquids inside the pail. Tight head pails often come with easy pouring orifices and tamper-evident caps as well. Both metal and plastic pails can come with these caps!
Are you carrying dangerous goods?
According to New Pig expert advice on environmental safety, special containers are needed to ship hazardous materials such as waste or flammables. If you’re confused as to which type of container is best for your sensitive goods, the UN Rating, a set of numbers and letters that mark the United Nations’ standards for storing hazardous goods, is an excellent resource to keep in your back pocket.