National Bulk Bag Blog

Updated: 7-5-2022

If you’ve recently been to the store to buy fresh produce, then you’ve probably encountered quite a bit of branded packaging. However, you also probably came across some generic packaging materials and didn’t even know it. Generic branding is flexible and allows use across many different farms and production facilities without the consumer knowing anything about it. It also has several other advantages over branded products. But what are some of those advantages? Let’s explore.

When it comes to packaging produce, there are many different types of packaging options to choose from. You need to find the right packaging that will protect your food products while also promoting your brand. In this blog post, we will discuss the different types of produce packaging and how to choose the right one for your business. We'll also provide some tips on how to create custom produce bags that will stand out from the competition!

Updated: 5-18-2022

When it comes to packaging and transporting a variety of goods, FIBC bulk bags are some of the most versatile options on the market. But what many people don't realize is that FIBC bulk bags with liners can also be extremely useful in a variety of situations. FIBC bulk bag liners are required for certain products and applications. Plastic liners can serve multiple purposes including, but not limited to:

FIBCs are commonly used throughout the agricultural industry for packaging, storing and transporting produce. While FIBCs are a great solution for these applications, there may be another option that many agriculture operations overlook – woven polypropylene, or WPP, bags.

What are WPP bags? Why should produce operations consider their use over FIBCs? Let’s explore.

The practice of “just-in-time” logistics has been around for well over 60 years. However, recent events, including the pandemic and severe weather across the globe, have led many supply chain leaders to reexamine their view on just-in-time practices. For many industries, including the plastics industry, just-in-time logistics are likely coming to an end.

Updated 4-19-2022

It is important to follow safe use guidelines when transporting and storing products with flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs). These include guidelines from manufacturers, suppliers, and the Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container Association (FIBCA).

If you've been following the news recently, you may have heard that there is a corrugated shortage affecting gaylord containers. This has caused prices for corrugated to skyrocket, and many businesses are struggling to find a way to get their products shipped. One great alternative to corrugated is FIBC bulk bags. FIBCs are a great replacement for corrugated because they are durable, economical, and easy to use. In this blog post, we will discuss the corrugated shortage and how switching to FIBC bulk bags can help your business!

Updated 4-5-2022

When using woven polypropylene bulk bags, it is important to use them per the instructions provided by both your supplier and the manufacturer. It is also important that you do not fill bags over their safe working load and/or reuse bags that aren’t designed for more than one use/trip. Most bags are manufactured for a single use bag but some are specifically designed for multiple uses.

Updated: 3-22-2022

FIBC Bulk bags come in many sizes, shapes, and materials. There are a wide range of customizations to consider when choosing the right bulk bag. The type of closure used to seal the bag is an important features because it can affect the integrity of the bag. There are many different types of bottom closures that can be customized to fit your application. 

Updated: 3-8-2022

Bulk Bags are one of the most versatile bulk containers on the market. For the most part, no matter what product you are storing and/or transporting, there is a bag that fits your unique application.

The pandemic’s impact on supply chain has been covered at great length – COVID-19 has significantly impacted the availability of goods and materials across the globe. Consumer goods aren’t the only thing in short supply, though; many employers are also struggling to find quality workers to fill critical roles. The agriculture industry is in the midst of an historic workforce shortage as laborers are difficult to come by, with many produce growers facing serious labor challenges come harvest season.

2020 was a historically poor year for the potato industry. Record low yields and reduced global production resulted in a significant decrease in the availability of potatoes – the global cold storage stock of potatoes fell from around 1.12 billion pounds to 1.06 pounds.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, lead times for many goods and raw materials have been significantly extended. Beginning in late 2020 and into early 2021, many manufacturers saw a huge spike in lead times due to skyrocketing demand following the initial lockdown periods across the globe. As the demand increased, supply struggled to keep pace, due often to understaffed manufacturing centers and increased delays in shipping and delivery of raw materials. No industry was immune, including the FIBC bulk bag industry as we covered in our recent post “How the Shipping Crunch Is Impacting FIBC Bulk Bag[...]

As we have expanded our product offering at National Bulk Bag into the agriculture industry, we’ve greatly expanded on the types of topics covered in this blog. A big part of that has been the packaging and/or storage materials that we carry. Almost all products that we sell at NBB are used in bulk transportation and/or storage – that’s simply a fact.

We’ve covered FIBC construction extensively on this blog in the past, however, it’s been a while since we’ve specifically covered the types of construction as it relates to the way bulk bags are put together. This includes the seams, panels, and how they are sewn together.

As supply chain issues continue to impact the world, many industries are feeling the crunch. As part of our commitment to keeping up on the latest industry news, we’re continually examining the FIBC market and lead times, and sharing our findings with you. By doing so, we hope to keep you informed and to help you minimize the impact supply chain issues have on your business.

For decades, the agricultural space has made use of baler bags for a wide range of applications. Over the years, baler bags have undergone significant transformation in order to meet the changing needs of those agricultural users. Baler bags are no longer the simple cloth bags they started as. Instead, baler bags are available in many different materials, with many different types of construction.

Organizations looking to reduce storage and transportation costs will likely be excited about the recently growing market for used FIBCs. It has become increasingly popular for companies to sell their bags after their first use, and for other organizations to purchase those bags for their own purposes. The sale of used FIBCs helps the seller recoup some of the original purchase cost, while organizations that purchase used likely save a few dollars.

Each year in March, the United States celebrates National Ag Day. The holiday is organized by the Agriculture Council of America (ACA), which is a nonprofit organization composed of leaders in the agricultural, food and fiber community. ACA dedicates its efforts to increasing the public's awareness of agriculture's role in modern society.

We see barcodes every single day. We see them at the grocery store, we see them at home and on our electronic devices. Industries ranging from food to electronic to small manufacturers use the same system of barcodes to keep their inventories and products organized and easily identifiable. Barcodes are everywhere and they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.