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Fiberboard 4G Boxes - UN Approved

Our 4G Fiberboard Boxes are used for shipping Hazardous Materials. They have been designed, tested and UN approved to be used with a number of specific approved inners. You can rest assured your hazmat liquids and solids with be safe in our certified packaging.


4G Packaging Explained

4G Boxes – for use with specific inner packaging when shipping Hazardous Goods

Our UN Approved 4G Fiberboard Boxes have been tested and approved with the use of specific inners.  This means that the inner packaging you use within the 4G box is required to be the exact same inner packaging(s) that the 4G Fiberboard Box was tested and approved with.

4G UN boxes come with a variety of approved inners to choose from. You will find a list of all approved inners on the specific 4G product page.

When shipping Hazardous Goods, should you wish to use your own Plastic bottlessteel drums or other inner packaging, take a look at our alternative UN boxes our 4GV Fiberboard boxes and 4DV plywood boxes.

4G Fiberboard Box Assembly Sheets

It is important to point out that 4G packaging must be packed and assembled in the same way as it was during the approval testing process, if packed incorrectly you will invalidate the UN certification. That’s why each of the products in our 4G range come with assembly instructions to guide you through the packing process.

Trusted 4G Fiberboard Packaging

Our 4G range allows for hazardous goods to be shipped up to a maximum gross weight of 15Kg

We also have a range of hazard labels available to ensure that your hazardous goods packaging is compliant.

4G Packaging Frequently Asked Questions


4G packaging is a term used for fiberboard boxes that have been UN approved.

It is displayed in the UN specification mark that is assigned to the packaging.

In this case, 4 denotes that the package is a box and the G denotes that it is made of fiberboard.

UN specification marks indicate that the packaging corresponds to a successfully tested design type and that it complies with the relevant provisions set out in dangerous goods regulations.

It allows businesses, shippers, handlers and appropriate authorities to identify the type of packaging and a number of performance related information.

Further details of performance criteria which the packaging meets can be found on the test certificate.

You can learn more about UN specification marks here.



The term 4G cardboard box when used in relation to UN approved packaging is technically incorrect terminology.

The correct description is 4G Fiberboard Box.

It is a form of outer packaging that is used for the shipment of hazardous goods.



4G boxes are used to house specific inner packaging that hazardous goods are stored in such as glass or plastic bottles or plastic drums.

4G boxes are tested with specific inners and once approved, those inner types must be used within the 4G box, using any other inner type will invalidate the UN test certification.

For example, if the 4G box was tested and UN certified with 4x 100ml glass bottles, then you must use these inners.

You cannot use the same box for 2 x 200ml plastic bottles as these have not been tested for use with this box.

The 4g box would act as a layer of protection for the inner packaging and goods being transported, and prevent damages occurring from knocks or drops during handling and transport.

At the same time, it prevents any leaks from escaping the container and being released.

This is especially important when you consider that potentially harmful materials may be being shipped.

Some common 4G fiberboard box uses:

  • 4G Fiberboard Boxes for Aviation Cartridges
  • UN 4G Hazmat Shipping Boxes for Plastic Buckets


The UN have a specific performance criterion that 4G packages must be able to meet in order to qualify as UN approved 4G packaging.

Tests vary depending on the hazardous goods classification permitted but can include, water, drop, stack, vibration, and leak testing to simulate how the material would perform under real life transport conditions.

As 4G boxes are examples of outer packaging, the materials are often tested and approved for use with specific inner packaging materials (including absorbent materials).

If this is the case, then you must ensure that you are using an approved combination of inner and outer packaging before transport.

On top of this, the package must be assembled as it was during testing.

We provide accurate assembly instructions with all orders of our 4g boxes so that our customers can rest assured that they are shipping their goods safely.

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