Keen-eyed bucket shoppers may have noticed the latest addition to the BuyBuckets range which went live on the website this week. We are pleased to announce our newest product category as screw top plastic jars.

These new products are perfect for transporting, storing and displaying a range of different substances and products including creams, powders, tablets and foodstuffs.

Meet our newest plastic containers

Our latest offering is a range of white, screw-top jars which will seal as tightly as you can screw them. These extra tough plastic containers are tamper resistant and food-safe, meaning that they can be used to store a range of sensitive substances.

They come in a range of volumes (250, 500, 1000 and 1250ml) and lid diameters (70-115mm). They can be purchased for less than £0.40/unit.

The screw top means that the lid can never come off accidentally, making this the perfect containers for things like face creams and tablets which could potentially make a mess or cause environmental damage, if released during transit.

All of the plastic jars are fully opaque so your product will always be protected from sunlight. The sheer white colour also means that jars can easily be labelled with printed stickers or with black marker pens.

Store, transport and display all of your creams, powders and foodstuffs

These products were designed with some key products and customers in mind.

We think that this product would be perfect for storing, transporting and displaying a whole range of products including:

• Creams
• Powders
• Tablets
• Cosmetics
• Other pharmaceuticals
• Paints
• Dyes
• Pigments
• Spices
• Granules
• Honey, jams and marmalades
• Sensitive foodstuffs

And they could be used by a bunch of different people including:

• Cafes, takeaways and restaurants
• Pharmaceutical companies
• Hobbyists
• Beauticians

Would these containers make running your business easier?

We love it when our products make life simpler for business owners. Sometimes even we are astonished by the difference a simple plastic container can make to daily business life.

If one of our products has made the difference for your business then be sure to let us know on Twitter.

In the meantime browse our range of containers today and see how we can make your life easier.

Tis the season for eating and drinking (in large amounts). Whether it’s a batch of mince pies or a cocktail bucket, all this festive joy needs preparing and storing, as well as imbigin.

This is of course where plastic containers have a starring role and so its vital to ensure that they are safe to use. If you bought through our online shop then give yourself a pat on back and carry on safe in the knowledge all H&O buckets and containers are food grade. But if you didn’t, here’s our handy food grade guide to iron out any uncertainties about what you’re using.

We have comprehensive regulations in the UK, for materials that are manufactured for use with foodstuffs. This is to remove the possibility of any inherent chemicals interfering with food stored in or eaten/drunk from the container. For instance, we wouldn’t recommend storing your potatoes in a former paint bucket!

The BuyBuckets food grade container guide

1. The first port of call is to look at the underneath of the plastic bucket / container in question. There should be a recycling number and some arrows and there should also be some numbers. One, four, and five indicate that it is indeed food grade standard and manufactured from the materials PETE, LDPE and polypropylene (PP) however, the ideal plastic for use with food is high-density polyethylene (HDPE) - number two.  There is also bio-plastic – an organic, plant-based compound – which also is OK for storing food.

2. Moving to the sides of the container, you may notice some symbols around the sides of the container. These indicate the food grade quality of the container as well its utility i.e. its potential cooking and storage uses and the symbols used should be self-explanatory. If you see a cup and a fork, rest assured that the plastic is indeed food grade. A ‘radiating waves’ symbol indicates the container is microwave-safe, and a snowflake implies that the container (with food in) can be left in the freezer. If you notice a symbol showing dishes in water that will mean its OK to stick the used and dirty container into a dishwasher.

3. Lastly, take care if you’re thinking of re-using any buckets or containers that have an unknown or debatable history. The symbols we’ve discussed refer to new containers and therefore will be meaningless if the container has since been used for mixing chemicals, or storing any toxic substances.

Hopefully this quick guide will be of some help to you when choosing or using plastic buckets and containers. The regulations may seem a bit complex but they are in place to put people at ease. Mind you, if you purchase a food grade container from Buybuckets, you needn’t worry at all, as they are manufactured specifically for food usage.

And a  very Merry Christmas from H&O Plastics and the Buybuckets team!