Food, industrial,
rinsed, retired.
Different suppliers use different grade terms, often loosely. Here are four common tiers, what each usually means, and what each is and isn’t suited to. Always confirm what a supplier’s grade includes.
Free quote request.
Your request goes to partner suppliers in our network, and a partner supplier follows up with a quote. No obligation.
Grade 1 · Food Grade
Edible oils, syrups, concentrates, brewing, cosmetic ingredients — where the supplier can confirm a suitable prior-contents history.
Totes with prior contents outside the food, beverage, or cosmetic stream, or with unknown history.
Usually a full interior wash and rinse, new gaskets, and a known prior-contents history. Ask the supplier what history they can confirm.
Grade 2 · Industrial Grade
Cleaners, detergents, ag chemicals, adhesives, lubricants, non-hazardous industrial liquids.
Food contact. First-fill requirements. Hazardous use unless the markings and current rules allow it.
Usually a full interior wash, leak test, and replacement of worn gaskets or valves. Cage repaired where needed.
Grade 3 · Rinsed Only
Non-contact storage, non-potable water storage, repurposing projects.
Food. Anything regulated. Anything where prior contents matter.
Typically rinsed only, with little or no refitting. The bottle is cleaner, but it still carries its prior history.
Grade 4 · End-of-Life
Recycling only. The bottle is past its working life.
Reuse, period.
Typically taken apart: the HDPE bottle goes to plastic recycling and the steel cage to scrap metal recycling where facilities accept them.
Which grade fits which application.
| Application | Grade 1 · Food | Grade 2 · Industrial | Grade 3 · Rinsed | New tote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edible oil, syrup, brewing | Yes | — | — | If first-fill required |
| Cosmetic ingredient carrier | Yes | — | — | If sealed-supply required |
| Cleaner / detergent | — | Yes | — | — |
| Adhesive / sealant | — | Yes | — | — |
| Ag chemical | — | Yes | — | — |
| First-fill required by QA | — | — | — | Yes |
| Electronics-grade reagent | — | — | — | Yes |
| Non-potable water storage | — | OK | Yes | — |
| Rain catchment, irrigation | OK | — | Yes | — |
| Aquaponics | Yes | — | — | — |
| Livestock water | Yes | — | — | — |
Words people use around totes.
- Prior contents
- What a tote held last. The single biggest factor in which grade a used tote can be sold as.
- SDS
- Safety data sheet. Describes a product’s hazards; suppliers often ask for it when buying totes that held chemicals.
- UN mark
- The marking on a UN-rated IBC, such as 31HA1, showing its type and test standard. Check current DOT/UN rules for hazmat use.
- Rebottled
- A used, inspected cage and pallet fitted with a new inner bottle.
- Granulation
- Mechanical grinding of an HDPE bottle into flakes for plastic recycling.
- EoL
- End-of-life. The point at which a tote is no longer reusable and goes to recycling.
Common questions.
Can a Grade 2 tote become a Grade 1 tote later?
Generally no. Grade depends on prior-contents history, not just current cleanliness. A tote with industrial history usually can’t be re-graded as food-grade, however thoroughly it’s washed.
Do all suppliers use these grade names?
No. Terms vary. When a partner supplier quotes you, ask what their grade includes: wash, leak test, gasket and valve replacement, and what prior-contents history they can confirm.
Can I ask for mixed grades in one request?
Yes. List the quantities of each grade you need and a partner supplier follows up with what they can offer.
What grade are repurposed totes (rain barrels, aquaponics)?
Rain barrels and non-contact storage are often made from rinsed totes. For aquaponics or anything food-adjacent, ask for a tote with a food-grade prior-contents history.
Need a specific grade?
Describe your application in a free, no-obligation quote request. A partner supplier in our network follows up with the grades they can offer.