Seven Things You Should Know About Shipping Chemicals in Glass Gallon Jugs

 

Although most people know them for their role in shipping beer and other beverages, glass gallon jugs are also a popular and inexpensive method for storing and shipping chemicals. They’re widely used in laboratories and industrial settings to safely ship various substances.

What’s behind this popularity? AirSea Containers’ packaging experts are here to help explain why our glass gallon jugs can help you ship all kinds of chemicals, as well as what you need to be aware of when using them for these purposes.

1. Glass is a great choice for chemical shipping because of its inert nature.

Shipping some chemicals can be challenging because of their reactive properties that can lead to unpredictable interactions with container materials. With glass, this is almost never a concern.

This is because glass is chemically inert, meaning that its molecules are stable and don’t react to most substances. (The notable exception is hydrofluoric acid, which can eat through glass and must always be stored in special plastic containers instead.) While you should always check the interactions of a given chemical with the materials you plan to ship it in, the inert nature of glass often makes it a prime choice.

2. If the chemicals are UV-sensitive, consider amber glass.

Amber glass is a great option for shipping light-sensitive chemicals because of its light-resistant properties. The color of this glass filters out almost the entire UV spectrum and thus provides excellent light protection.

These jugs are often associated with beverages like beer and kombucha that can be spoiled by light. However, AirSea’s amber glass gallon jugs are a cost-effective way to ship chemicals using these useful properties of amber glass. Research your cargo’s properties of light interaction, then decide whether amber glass is the right choice for you.

3. Make sure the packaging is adequately padded to protect the glass.

Glass is sturdier than most people imagine, and our AirSea glass jugs are designed for durability. However, glass does still require more padding than some other shipping materials.

Your main priority should be protecting glass jugs from shocks during transit that will cause them to bump up against things. For these uses, we recommend our biodegradable and recyclable air pillows as well as our biodegradable sealed air packing peanuts. These cost-effective and eco-friendly options will help keep your glass safe during transit.

4. Consider overpack boxes for another layer of protection.

Overpack boxes are one of the best ways to ship glass materials. These boxes function as an outer shell that keeps several units together while also keeping them immobile. It’s a great way to protect the jugs, especially when combined with additional packaging materials.

As a bonus, overpack boxes make jugs much easier to ship, count and track. By collecting your goods into a smaller number of units, you can make things easier on your warehouse staff and your freight carrier.

5. Make sure you have adequate protection for temperature-sensitive products.

Glass is a thermal insulator; thus it can keep products cold for longer than some options such as steel or aluminum. However, you may still require thermal packaging materials to keep your chemicals at a safe temperature.

Dry ice is widely used as a shipping refrigerant, but it’s not the best choice for glass as it can sometimes cause it to shatter. Many freight carriers are also reluctant to ship dry ice because of its potential safety concerns. Instead, try AirSea’s reusable refrigerant gel packs. They offer a safer and more eco-friendly alternative to dry ice with comparable performance.

6. Find out whether hazmat labels are needed.

As always, you’ll need to make sure your shipments are carrying the appropriate UN hazard warning labels. These labels keep freight handling staff informed about the special techniques and conditions needed to safely handle your materials.

AirSea offers a complete selection of UN-compliant hazmat shipping labels to keep your products safe and in compliance with all relevant regulations. And if you’re not sure whether your application requires hazmat labels, make sure to check the safety codes for your shipping method. Whether it’s land, air or sea, these regulations will help you determine what your labeling needs to look like.

7. Ensure that your boxes are adequately labeled for gentle handling.

Finally, it’s vital that you let freight handlers know that the items within are glass and must be handled carefully. This one’s easy—all you need is a roll of Fragile labels to apply to your boxes. Our labels are bright, easy-to-see and durable.

Shipping chemicals safely always requires choosing the right shipping materials. Many of our customers have found that AirSea’s glass gallon jugs are just what they need. If you’ve got more questions, we’d love to help—call us at (866) 596-9448 or contact us online!