Modular, knock-down, light weight, thermally insulating, tamper proof shipping container and fire retardant shipping container bag

A selectively assembled and disassembled shipping container comprising:

• a pallet, a top panel and a plurality of walls;
• wherein one or more of the pallet, the top panel and the plurality of walls includes a core made of at least an expanded polymer and one or more thermoplastic sheets substantially surrounding the core;
• wherein the thermoplastic sheets are made of a material having an average density substantially greater than the density of the expanded polymer;
• and
• wherein at least two or more of the top panel and the plurality of walls are connected by a living hinge, wherein the living hinge is formed by one or both of the core and the one or more thermoplastic sheets;
• wherein the shipping container includes a groove and a complementary protrusion mateable with said groove so that said two or more connected walls and said pallet are selectively engaged together to resist separation from each other;
• and
• wherein the top panel and the plurality of walls are separable from the pallet so that the pallet is loadable and/or movable independently from the top and the plurality of walls.

A selectively assembled and disassembled shipping container comprising:

• a pallet with two or more legs, a top panel and a plurality of walls;
• wherein one or more of the pallet, the top panel and the plurality of walls includes:
• (a) a core, wherein the core includes a first material including an expanded polymer;
• (b) substantially surrounded by one or more thermoplastic sheets, wherein the thermoplastic sheets are made of a second material, wherein the density of the second material is substantially greater than the density of the first material;
• and
• (c) one or more fasteners for fastening one or more of the top panel and the plurality of walls to one or more of the top panel and the plurality of walls;
• and
• wherein two or more of the walls are permanently interconnected and include grooves at the lower portion of the walls that are mateable with corresponding protrusions extending from said pallet so that the walls and said pallet selectively engage together to resist separation from each other;
• wherein the top panel and the plurality of walls are separable from the pallet so that the pallet is loadable and/or movable independently from the top and the plurality of walls.