Consistency and Safety for Packaging and Transporting Dangerous Goods

Bag-in-box packaging is an innovative solution used for the transport, storage, and dispensing of liquid products across several industries: food and beverage, chemical, cosmetics, and lubricants and greases to name a few. With new—and better—methods in manufacturing and transport come regulations. That’s a good thing, because they help ensure consistency and safety. For bag-in-box packaging, one of the most well-known and important certification is UN, or United Nations certification. Knowing what it is, what it covers, and how your business would benefit from compliance is one of the best tactics to stay competitive in a busy market.

What Is UN Certification for Bag-in-Box Packaging?

UN certification is a cohesive means of measurement against common packaging challenges, intended to standardize worldwide shipment of dangerous goods to provide predictable end-user results. By conforming to a standard that works in multiple countries, regardless of their common logistics handling and storage procedures, issues such as spoilage, damage, leaking, and punctures are severely minimized. While the UN does not actually certify the packaging (the packaging meets the standards set forth by the UN), customers are ensured that packaging products bearing the UN certification will perform within set standards in four test areas: a drop test, a stacking test, a vibration test (used only for 49 Code of Federal Regulations), and a cobb water absorption test. The cobb test refers to the rate at which cardboard absorbs surrounding water in the event of ambient conditions or submersion; it can be extremely helpful for determining the level of protection a given package has against both inner and outer leakage.

Your Industry and Application

If you’re packaging needs span the following industries and applications, CDF’s UN-certified bag-in-box serves them:

• Chemical: adhesives, agricultural, automotive oils, chemicals, coatings, detergents, inks, lubricants, paints, petroleum
• Cosmetic: cleansers, conditioner, cream, liquid makeup, lotion, shampoo, tanning spray
• Food & Beverage: flavorings, purees, sauces, vinegar, beverage base, coffee, dairy, juice, lemonade, tea, water
• Medical

Let’s Get Classy

If you’re in any portion of the packaging supply chain— manufacturing, distribution and transportation, or end-use customer—you probably already know about the classification of your substances. Here’s a quick review of the two classes CDF serves with bag-in-box packaging solutions.

What Is Class II?

If your product is gaseous or contains gases in the material mix, it would fall under the class I group. This group demands the most rigorous results—survival from a 1.8-meter drop—and also encompasses immediately dangerous items, such as poisons. If your product falls in this packaging category, you are responsible for determining and choosing packaging. This includes bag-in-box-style packaging, and ensures reliable containment during shipment and storage.

What Is Class III?

If your product is liquid and potentially flammable, particularly if there’s an explosive risk, your product would fall into class III packaging. To pass muster, and in order to stay in compliance as a class III product, your bag-in-box packaging will have to remain intact and viable from a drop of 1.2 meters. You are also responsible for determining if your product falls into this category, but with both class II and class III products, the right packaging partner will help you make sure your packaging solutions are in compliance.

Bag-in-Box Performance Benefits

• Bag-in-box is a replacement for many rigid packages, including cube-shaped inserts, cans, and plastic pails.
• Both pillow and form-fit bags are suitable for use with manual, semi-automatic, and fully automatic fill lines.
• Virtually a flat bag, minimizing shipping and warehouse space requirements.
• Bag-in-box uses significantly less plastic and on average, costs notably less than a similar capacity rigid container, including plastic pails, bottle, and cube-shaped containers.
• Dispenses without surging or glugging.
• Bag-in-box offers excellent quality due to its superior seam strength.
• Bag-in-box fills without air, therefore no foaming or splashing.

These certifications and classifications translate to “reliability” when it comes to finding the right packaging. The best way to protect yourself, your product, and the reputation of your brand is to partner with a packaging supplier that understands and uses them responsibly. CDF has been providing trustworthy and comprehensive packaging solutions to your industry for more than 40 years, so when you use one of our designs, you’ll know your products are safe and in compliance. Whether you’re packing and transporting class II, class III, or other items that you want assurance will travel safely, if it’s in one of our boxes, you’ll know it’s arriving intact.

CDF’s UN-Certified bag-in-box meets all UN requirements and is certified by a third-party lab following the Department of Transportation guidelines. Click here for more information on CDF’s UN-certified bag-in-box.