Cold plunge / ice bath tub, built from a recycled IBC tote
A cut, insulated food-grade tote delivers a full-immersion cold plunge for a tiny fraction of a commercial unit — one of the most cost-dramatic reuses documented.
Recycled IBC
Reuses a durable, standardised container. Diverts it from scrap and avoids new-material carbon.
a commercial cold plunge
A purpose-built product — bought new, moulded or fabricated from virgin material.
Kevin Szabo Jr Plumbing — how to make an ice bath from IBC totes →
A real-world write-up with photos of this reuse in practice.
A cut, insulated food-grade tote delivers a full-immersion cold plunge for a tiny fraction of a commercial unit — one of the most cost-dramatic reuses documented. That advantage is real for this job specifically — not a blanket claim that a tote is best for everything.
Suitability & safety
Prefer a documented previous-food-use bladder. Treat any non-food or unknown-history tote conservatively and confirm prior contents before reuse.
For any water-holding reuse, shield the bladder from sunlight to prevent algae, fit food-safe fittings, and rinse thoroughly before first use.