Plastic containers go into kitchens, factories, farms and garages, and the same word covers a 30 ml sample pot and a 20 litre bucket. What matters is the plastic: it decides whether the tub survives a microwave, a freezer, hot oil or a drop on concrete. South African wholesalers and moulders sell tubs and lids from a few cents to a few rand each. Tell us what goes inside and how it is used, and suppliers near you quote directly, free of charge.
PP, PET and HDPE: which plastic
Three plastics cover most containers, and each has a recycling code on the base:
- Polypropylene (PP, code 5) is stiff, handles hot food and microwaves, and survives a freezer. It is the usual choice for takeaway tubs, ice cream tubs and meal prep containers.
- PET (code 1) is glass-clear and stays rigid, ideal for salads, cakes and dry goods on display. It softens with heat, so keep it away from hot fills and microwaves.
- HDPE (code 2) is tough and chemical resistant. Buckets, tubs for paint, cleaning products and bulk food ingredients are commonly HDPE.
Thin-walled single-use tubs are cheaper than heavy reusable ones. Say whether you want it used once or washed many times.
Shapes, sizes and lids
Round tubs nest tightly and are cheapest to ship. Rectangular and square tubs use shelf and fridge space better and stack neatly, which matters in a delivery bag. Capacities run from 30 ml sauce pots to 5 litres for catering and 25 litre buckets for bulk food or building products.
The lid is as important as the tub. A snap-on lid is quick but may pop under pressure. A tamper-evident lid has a tear strip that shows if the pack was opened, which many buyers want for delivery. A screw lid or a lid with a gasket gives the best seal for liquids. Always check that lids and tubs come from the same range, as a close fit between different brands is rare.
Food safe, microwave and freezer
If the container holds food, it must be made from food-grade plastic. Ask for a food-grade or migration certificate for the exact tub and lid, and ask whether it is rated for the hot or cold temperature you need. Not every food-grade tub is microwave safe, and not every microwave safe tub is freezer safe, so state both. Dark pigments and recycled plastic are fine for industrial uses but are not usually used for food. For ready-to-eat meals see takeaway containers, and for bakery goods see cake boxes.
Bulk buckets and ordering quantities
Buckets with handles and lids from 5 to 25 litres suit paint, adhesives, pickles, grain and animal feed. Standard sizes are held in stock by wholesalers and sold by the pallet or in cases of 10 to 50. Tubs and lids are normally sold in sleeves or cartons of 50 to 500. Expect prices to fall by 10% to 30% once you buy a full carton instead of a sleeve. Custom moulded or printed tubs need a mould or a decoration set-up and usually start at 10,000 pieces.
What to include in your request
- What goes inside and its temperature
- Capacity in ml or litres
- Round, square or rectangular
- Lid type: snap, tamper-evident, screw
- Quantity, delivery address and date needed
Plastic Containers for different businesses
- Online shops and ecommerce: stackable tubs for dry goods, snacks and kits sold online and posted in a carton
- Restaurants, takeaways and food producers: lidded tubs for soups, salads, sauces and meal prep in kitchens and delis
- Shops and retail stores: clear storage tubs and display containers sold as products or used for loose items
- Factories and manufacturers: buckets and tubs for filling paint, adhesives, cleaning products and food ingredients
- Warehouses, distributors and exporters: reusable bins and sealed buckets for parts and bulk goods stored in warehouses
- Households and offices moving: lidded storage tubs for kitchenware, toys and small items instead of cartons
- Farms, packhouses and nurseries: tubs and buckets for honey, feed, seed, produce and farm stall goods
- Cosmetics, candles and health products: wide-mouth tubs for body butter, scrubs and bulk skincare
Frequently asked questions
Are all plastic containers microwave safe?
Can I buy plastic containers and lids separately?
What does a tamper-evident lid do?
How cheap are containers in bulk?
Plastic Containers by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg