The Complete Guide to Hazmat Fulfillment and Shipping for eCommerce Brands

Understanding hazardous materials policies is crucial for safe, legal, and efficient cargo handling—protecting people, property, and the environment.

"Hazmat" is short for Hazardous Materials, and in the shipping world, it refers to substances or products that pose a risk to health, safety, property, or the environment when transported.

These materials are regulated by agencies like the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), International Air Transport Association (IATA), and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

This guide will walk you through what qualifies as a hazmat product, what shipping classifications matter most, how to fulfill and ship hazmat items safely, and why working with a 3PL that gets it can save you a serious logistics headache.

You don’t need to be shipping explosives or flammable barrels to be handling hazmat. If your brand sells perfume, nail polish, aerosol sprays, or lithium battery-powered gadgets, congratulations—you’re in the hazmat club.

Hazmat shipping isn’t just for industrial suppliers. Plenty of beauty, wellness, home, and pet brands sell items that qualify as hazardous materials, whether they realize it or not. And that’s where things can get tricky. From carrier limitations to regulatory compliance, hazmat fulfillment comes with unique challenges—but the good news is, you don’t have to figure it all out alone.

Hazmat items are often classified by their physical or chemical properties. Common types include:

To determine whether your eCommerce products are classified as hazmat, begin by reviewing their ingredients or components. If a product contains flammable liquids, pressurized gases, corrosive agents, or lithium batteries, it's likely to fall under one of the U.S. DOT or IATA hazmat classifications.  These classifications signal that the product poses a transport risk and will need to meet specific packaging, labeling, and documentation requirements to be shipped legally and safely.

The best first step is to check the product’s Safety Data Sheet (SDS), which identifies its hazardous properties and proper shipping class. These classifications help determine how a product must be packaged, labeled, and transported. Knowing which class your product falls under is the first step in understanding your shipping responsibilities and avoiding noncompliance issues.

Here are some common eCommerce items broken down by product type and hazmat class:

Not sure if your product qualifies? Assume it might and validate early. Misclassifying a shipment could result in rejection, fines, or even being blacklisted by your carrier.

If you're unsure whether your product qualifies, reviewing its Safety Data Sheet (SDS) or consulting a certified hazmat shipper is a smart first step.

Shipping hazmat products means following a specific set of rules designed to keep your team, carriers, and customers safe—and to keep your shipments from being rejected or delayed. Each category below represents a key part of compliant hazmat fulfillment, and understanding how they all work together is critical if your brand is shipping products like perfume, cleaning sprays, lithium batteries, or anything flammable.

1. Packaging & Labeling:

• UN-certified packaging is specially designed and tested to meet international safety standards for transporting hazardous materials. These packages are required for many hazmat classes and are marked with specific UN codes that indicate the type of material they are approved to contain.

• Packaging must be compatible with the chemical contents and pass rigorous testing such as drop, pressure, and leak-proof tests.

• Labels must include correct hazard symbols (e.g., flammable, corrosive), UN numbers that identify the substance (e.g., UN1263 for paint), and handling instructions.

• For some shipments, additional markings like orientation arrows, limited quantity marks, or the Proper Shipping Name (PSN) are required.

• Failure to use compliant packaging and labeling can result in shipment rejections, fines, or carrier blacklisting.

2. Carrier Requirements:

• USPS: Allows limited hazmat shipments via ground service only. Prohibited items include lithium batteries, aerosols, and most flammable liquids. USPS has strict guidelines and limited support for dangerous goods, making it a less common option for hazmat fulfillment.

• UPS & FedEx: Both carriers accept a wider range of hazmat shipments, including ground and air services for approved classes. However, proper classification, labeling, packaging, and documentation are required to ship these items legally and safely.

• Carrier Approvals and Contracts: For businesses that regularly ship hazardous materials, UPS and FedEx often require you to enter into a hazardous materials agreement or gain carrier-specific approval. This may involve providing documentation of your team's hazmat training, a detailed shipping plan, and proof of compliance processes. Without this, your shipments may be delayed or refused outright.

3. Documentation:

• Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods: This is a mandatory form for air transport that details the nature of the hazmat product, classification, packaging, quantity, and emergency contact info. It must be completed accurately and signed by a trained individual.

• SDS (Safety Data Sheet): A required document that provides detailed info about the product's properties, hazards, handling procedures, and first aid measures. SDS sheets are typically provided by the manufacturer and must be accessible during transport and fulfillment.

4. Training and Certification:

• Anyone handling hazmat goods in your operation is required by law to complete hazmat training. This training ensures that your team understands how to properly package, label, document, and handle hazardous materials in accordance with regulations from agencies like DOT and IATA.

• Hazmat certification is typically obtained through an approved training provider—many offer self-paced online courses, live webinars, or in-person options.

• Training covers classification, packaging, shipping papers, emergency procedures, and security awareness.

• Most certification programs cost between $100 and $300 per person, depending on the depth of material and format.

• Certification must be renewed every 3 years, and records of training must be maintained for regulatory audits.

5. Shipping Method Restrictions:

• Many hazmat products are restricted to ground shipping only due to the increased risk and regulatory requirements associated with transporting hazardous materials by air. Ground transport offers more flexibility in packaging and labeling and is generally safer for flammable, corrosive, or reactive substances.

• Air shipping is governed by stricter international rules, including those from IATA and ICAO. Carriers require full documentation, special packaging, and often additional approval for air shipments. Some hazmat products are completely prohibited from air transpor, but for items that are allowed, strict quantity limits, additional labeling, and specialized packaging—such as pressure-tested containers—may be required. Always refer to the latest IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations or consult with your carrier or 3PL to confirm whether your product can fly.

Simplify complex regulations—partnering with a 3PL ensures safe, compliant hazmat shipping while saving time and avoiding costly penalties

Handling hazmat internally is risky, especially if your team isn’t certified. Not to mention the hours of extra labor associated with compliance that could clog your operations up.

The right 3PL partner  with hazmat capabilities can help take the load off with:

• Certified Teams: Trained, experienced staff with up-to-date hazmat shipping certifications.

• Compliant Storage: 3PLs have the warehouse space and equippment to properly store hazmat goods to ensure products stay undamaged and isolated.

• Carrier Coordination: Established relationships and contracts with major carriers like UPS and FedEx help keep shipping efficient and accurate.

• Documentation Support: 3PLs handle the paperwork, labels, and compliance needs - and are on the hook if they get it worng.

• Risk Reduction: Avoid fines, rejections, and shipping delays with a partner who knows the ropes

Working with a hazmat-ready 3PL means you don’t have to choose between scale and safety. You get both.

Have questions on what your brand's hazmat processes could look like with Nice Commerce? Our team is always available to talk shop!