Sustainability Language

Circular Economy & Materials

Bulk bag (FIBC)

A woven polypropylene container for 500–2,000 kg of dry bulk goods — widely reused and recyclable, and the subject of a closed-loop reconditioning economy in industrial supply chains.

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Definition

A flexible intermediate bulk container (FIBC): an industrial bag woven from polypropylene strands, designed to carry typically 500–2,000 kg of dry, flowable products such as grains, chemicals and minerals. Standard ISO 21898 governs design and testing; safety-factor ratings distinguish single-trip bags (5:1) from multi-trip bags designed for reuse (6:1).

References

Cliffe Packaging

ISO 21898; 5:1 single-trip vs 6:1 multi-trip safety factors; 500–2,000 kg working loads; polypropylene recyclability.

Overview

What it means

FIBCs matter to circular-economy practice in three ways. Reuse: bags that pass inspection can be reused — safely only when designed and rated for multiple trips. Reconditioning: specialist schemes collect, clean, recondition and requalify bags for the same product stream in closed loops.

Recycling: woven polypropylene (resin code 5) is recyclable through commercial programmes, though bags contaminated by hazardous contents are not recyclable. Design features — liners, coatings, mixed materials — determine which end-of-life route is feasible.

How it is used

Agricultural commodity, chemical and construction supply chains move goods in FIBCs; procurement policies increasingly specify reusable (6:1) bags, take-back schemes or recycled-content polypropylene. Packaging-waste regulation (such as extended producer responsibility regimes) brings FIBCs into producer reporting.

Why it matters

FIBCs are invisible but ubiquitous packaging infrastructure; their reuse systems are a working example of business-to-business circularity operating at scale today.

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