Cold packaging is a very useful and widely used form of packaging today. It is important for a process known as the “cold chain”. It represents a temperature-controlled supply chain.
Cold chain–dependent industries
There are many fields of application of both cold packaging and cold chain supply process. Some of these industries are unimaginable without the principles of temperature control.
Those include:
Food industry
Pharmaceutical industry
Various industrial products.
Cold packaging in the pharmaceutical industry
There are lots of strict legal requirements related to temperature control in the pharmaceutical industry. Both national and international rules, guidelines and requirements are becoming stricter. This is especially related to the transport and storage of pharmaceutical products. This is why cold packaging innovations don’t stop. Some of the standards and classifications of cold packaging, transport, and storage in the pharmaceutical industry include:
Cool packaging: packaging keeping the temperature from +2°C to +8°C
Ambient packaging: keeping the temperature from +15 to +25°C
Thermo-packaging: maintaining and ensuring a stable temperature during transport.
Cold packaging in online food selling chain
The rapidly growing online food supply and selling industry is especially related to cold packaging. The cold chain is relevant for the supply, short-term storage, transport and delivery of temperature-sensitive products. Refrigerators are not economical solutions in transport anymore. Sometimes, depending on the mode of transportation, refrigerators are not an option.
Types of cold packaging
EPS or Styrofoam boxes containing cooling elements, such as cooling gels and hard plastic thermal packs are perfect for shipping temperature-sensitive products which must be additionally protected regarding their shape and deformation. Furthermore, EPS boxes are great for item-tailored size and shape. Other solutions include:
Thermo-boxes
Pallet-boxes
Gel-packs
Foam-brick packaging.
All of the above-mentioned cold packaging types keep the product cold within the previously programmed and determined number of hours (maximum 96 hours). They are compact and, therefore, unnecessary excess weight and oversized packaging leading to additional charges are being avoided. The principle behind these cold boxes is a sturdy, protective outer packaging containing a chilling unit. The chilling unit is activated at the required or desired moment by the operator, placed into the box and shipped to its destination. The unit is designed in a way that it continuously evaporates a controlled amount of water. The goal is to keep the box temperature from 2°C to 8°C (or other desired temperature range) for up to 48 or 96 hours.
The strongest assets of these cooling boxes are:
Good ability to keep a constant temperature: The desired temperature is set and guaranteed for 48 – 96 hours.
Various box sizes: The box can be modified according to the item. This is a space, time and money-saving method.
Lightweight: As EPS is a lightweight material, the boxes are very lightweight themselves. This minimizes the shipment costs in comparison to some other shipping modes.
Simple: Preparing the box and activating the unit is all you need to do before shipping the item.
Certified: Compliant with various food and pharmaceutical industry safety and hygiene standards.