Recycled FIBC bags – Closing the Loop

(February 1, 2010, Edmonton, Canada) Drader Manufacturing has engineered and developed a line of BagPal channels made from recycled FIBC bags.  Now North American FIBC bag manufacturers and their customers can close the loop on recycling their FIBCs. 

Dealing with used FIBC bags is a controversial issue, because there are only a few good environmental solutions.  Some suppliers offer bag refurbishing services, and others may offer re-use options, but most used bags end up in landfills.  With increased awareness on the environment, FIBC customers are now asking their suppliers to provide other environmental answers.  With BagPal channels manufactured from recycled FIBC bags, another true environmental option exists.  Suppliers and customers can feel comfortable knowing their used bags are being recycled into BagPal channels, and the channels replace wood pallets, another environmental “win”.    

Here’s how the recycling program works:  Used FIBCs are bundled and transported to approved FIBC recyclers.  There, the bags are ground up, mixed with other polypropylene resin streams, and pelletized.  The recycled resin is shipped to Drader Manufacturing whereby it is mixed and blended with resins, modifiers, and additives, then made into BagPal channels.  The BagPal channels are sent off to the FIBC customers who use them to support their FIBC bags.  The BagPal channels are an excellent wood pallet replacement for filling, storing and shipping FIBC bags. 

Recycled FIBC BagPal channels come in three models.  There are six BagPal models in all.  They are cost-competitive with wood pallets and offer many benefits to FIBC suppliers and users.  Since they become an integral part of the FIBC bag, BagPal channels provide a stable shipping and storage platform for bags.  Regardless of model, BagPal channels do not need to be heat treated to be considered “bug-free”.  BagPal channels do not have a shelf life like certified wood pallets; they take up much less space, and only weigh a fraction of a wood pallet’s weight.  Compared to pallets, BagPal channels offer savings on price, space, freight, and storage.