All-plastic
An all-plastic tote is a molded polyethylene tank with no steel cage. It is made of high-density polyethylene with a wall about half an inch thick, rotationally molded, and it is a different thing from a caged composite.
01How it is built
Rotational molding spins a mold while heated polyethylene coats its walls, which makes a one-piece tank with an even wall. Where a caged tote has a thin bottle held by a cage, an all-plastic tote carries its own load in a thick wall, about half an inch.
The result is a heavier, stiffer tank that stands alone, without a steel grid. It does not take the cage-and-bottle split that rebottling relies on, so there is no rebottled grade for it.
02What it suits and what it does not
| Suits | Does not suit |
|---|---|
| Water storage and rainwater | Class I flammable liquids, which never go in plastic |
| Many non-hazardous chemicals, per the maker | Stacking beyond what its own plate allows |
| A fixed spot with a base underneath | A forklift’s rough handling |
03On a ticket
The desk matches all-plastic totes where the plate and condition allow, and asks the seller for both. Say that the tote is all-plastic in the note. Check the plate for a UN code and the retest date, because a tank made for fixed storage may carry no transport marks at all.
04When the cage is plastic too
An all-plastic tote has no steel cage. The frame and the bottle are both plastic, often molded together or joined in a way that cannot be separated. It is lighter than a caged tote and does not rust, which suits wet sites, near-sea locations and products that attack steel. It has its own plate and its own test schedule.
The trade-offs show up on the used market. A caged tote can be rebottled, and an all-plastic one usually cannot, so there is no rebottled grade. An all-plastic tote that cracks or ages cannot be saved by replacing the cage. It also carries less stacking load in some designs, so the plate matters more.
Like any plastic tote, it must not hold Class I flammable liquids, and the fire guidance applies in full. Buyers who want a lightweight tote for water in a damp yard or a coastal garden are the usual customers, and the ticket should name the use.
?Questions on this page
Is an all-plastic tote an IBC?
Only if it is built and marked as one. Check the plate.
Can I use one for water?
Yes, with a known history.
Sources
Last reviewed 2026-11-11. Rules change; read the current text before you act on it.