For packaging, cardboard is typically used to make boxes for shipping products. Cardboard is also known as fiberboard which is a common material to make boxes for shipping. However, when shipping hazardous material, the United Nations usually designates the boxes as UN 4G Packaging.
What is 4G Packaging?
The designation 4G is a packaging code generally used to denote the dangerous goods. It is used to alert shipping personnel that inside the cardboard containers there is packaging that contains hazardous goods. Actually, the fiberboard or cardboard does provide limited protection for the inner packaging contents and its main use is to simply the ease of handling small and delicate hazardous containers, for e.g. cans, bottles, glasses and jars.
By itself, UN 4G packaging is a popular method to ship hazardous goods. Every person, including the suppliers, shipper, transport operator, distributer, and end user should understand that it is important to mark “UN 4G” so that everyone involved in the shipping process do not unknowingly find themselves shipping dangerous and hazardous goods illegally. 4G packaging level also helps you to avoid any scope of fatal accidents that might occur when handling hazardous goods.
Cardboard Box with 4G Designation:
A cardboard or fiberboard box with a UN 4G designation is not actually a real box. It’s actually a package in which the cardboard box is one component. By marking the cardboard box as 4G the person handling the hazardous goods shipping is legally certifying that the total package, not just the cardboard box, meets all the rules and regulations of the United Nations 4G packaging standard. Similarly, the manufacturers of the cardboard box should not stamp their boxes with UN 4G Packaging level.
Therefore, the 4G level on cardboard box means that the packaging is actually a combination of packaging comprised of an “outer packaging”. The whole packaging case may contain one or more units of hazardous “inner packaging” such as glass bottles, jars, cans etc.
In order to compliance with the United Nations rules for transporting hazardous and dangerous goods, the combination packages should be tested in exact configuration of the finished package. This means that the cardboard box as well as its all inner packaging including all delicate materials must undergo testing in its final assembled condition that is going to be used for shipment purposes.
This is really a very difficult requirement that is not within the capabilities of an ordinary cardboard manufacturer and you should only go for professional agencies who are expert in UN 4G Packaging. All variation packaging that is packaged using inner packaging, such as glass bottles, jars, cans, small plastic containers etc are allowed to be transported by using a cardboard that meets UN 4G packaging standards. This designation denotes that the recognized national authority has certified the packaging. The certification means that the packaging is allowed for use in the transportation of hazardous goods.
In short, the UN 4G Packaging designation serves as an alert to everyone involved in the shipping process that the cardboard is carrying hazardous materials that are potentially harmful.
