Due to increasing awareness of the environmental impact of traditional cold chain packaging, the cold chain shipping industry feels pressure from leadership and consumers to adopt more sustainable practices.
Navigating sustainable cold chain practices presents a challenge, especially because sustainability initiatives cannot conflict with adherence to shipping regulations. In this guide, you’ll learn the importance of sustainable cold chain packaging and changes you can implement in your current shipping practices.
Why Is Sustainability Important in Cold Chain Packaging?
In its 2023 sustainability in packaging survey, McKinsey & Company found that 43% of consumers find the environmental impact of packaging extremely or very important when making purchasing decisions. For the cold chain industry, this means people want eco-friendly cold chain packaging solutions that do not compromise quality or delivery speed.
Other reasons sustainability is important in cold chain shipping include:
- Preparing for new regulations: Governments are implementing regulations that urge companies to reduce plastic waste and adopt sustainable practices.
- Reducing food waste: Innovative packaging solutions can minimize food spoilage, which augments economic efficiency and food security.
- Boosting brand reputation: Adhering to regulations ensures compliance and bolsters reputation. This attracts environmentally conscious partners and consumers.
- Protecting the environment: Removing single-use materials and promoting sustainable efforts reduce landfill waste and protect the environment for future generations.
Common Challenges of Adopting Sustainable Cold Chain Packaging
Consider a few cold chain shipping sustainability challenges:
- Cost: Creating, purchasing and distributing eco-friendly packaging solutions can be more costly than using traditional solutions.
- Safety: Cold chain packaging solutions must keep products safe and at specific temperatures during shipping.
- Recycling facilities: Even if the packaging is recyclable, some communities lack the facilities to recycle packaging properly.
- Hesitance to adopt: Sustainable cold chain packaging is still relatively new, and some businesses may be hesitant to invest in it.
Despite these challenges, sustainable cold chain packaging has many advantages, including minimizing the environmental impact of traditional packaging.
The Environmental Impact of Traditional Cold Chain Packaging
Traditional cold chain packaging has significant negative effects on the environment, primarily due to the materials used and the emissions generated throughout the process. Explore these impacts:
- Material waste: Common packaging materials, such as polystyrene and plastics, are nonbiodegradable. They often end up in landfills, where they take years to decompose.
- Carbon footprint: Some refrigerants emit greenhouse gases like hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). These gases contribute to climate change and harm the ozone layer.
- Deforestation and resource depletion: Even sustainable materials like cardboard can have adverse environmental effects. Unsustainable paper and pulp operations contribute to deforestation, and the production process requires vast amounts of water. Additionally, producing refrigerants requires high amounts of energy.
- Water pollution: Improper disposal of refrigerants can contaminate water bodies and threaten aquatic life.
Benefits of Sustainable Cold Chain Packaging
Sustainable cold chain packaging benefits the environment and can improve operations. Some of the advantages include:
- Reducing environmental impact: Biodegradable and sustainable materials lower waste and help reduce pollution. This approach also helps reduce reliance on nonrenewable resources, minimizes carbon footprints and conserves natural ecosystems.
- Enjoying cost savings: Adopting sustainable packaging can lead to long-term cost savings. For example, sustainable materials are often lightweight, which can help lower transportation and storage costs. Additionally, these solutions are typically made from fewer raw materials, which makes them more cost-effective.
- Protecting products: Many sustainable packaging options are designed to preserve temperature-sensitive products. These solutions maintain product quality, safety and freshness while aligning with sustainability standards. With effective insulation properties and leak-proof designs, these packaging solutions reduce spoilage and product loss throughout the supply chain.
- Using resources effectively: Using sustainable packaging reduces resource consumption throughout its life cycle.
- Future-proofing: Transitioning to sustainable practices can help businesses prepare for future regulations aimed at reducing environmental impact. It also provides a significant advantage over competitors who do not prioritize eco-friendly solutions.
The Best Sustainable Packaging Solutions for Cold Chain Shipping
These sustainable cold chain packaging innovations are paving the way for a more eco-friendly future in cold chain logistics:
- Biodegradable materials: Biodegradable packaging made from materials like recycled cotton and polylactic acid (PLA) or derived from sustainable resources like sugarcane and corn starch are emerging. These materials decompose naturally — though sometimes only under very specific conditions — reducing waste and environmental impact compared to traditional plastics.
- Reusable packaging systems: Adopting reusable packaging solutions reduces the need for continuous procurement of packaging materials. This lowers costs over time, minimizes waste and reinforces a commitment to sustainability.
- Active packaging materials: Active packaging features built-in technologies that monitor and control the internal environment of the package. These include moisture absorbers and oxygen scavengers, which help maintain product quality and extend shelf life while reducing waste.
- Phase change materials (PCMs): PCMs store and release energy to help maintain stable temperatures. They reduce reliance on external refrigeration and improve the efficiency of traditional systems. This innovation helps reduce energy use and lower carbon emissions.
- IoT technologies: Internet of Things (IoT) sensors monitor temperature and humidity conditions inside packages and track their locations. This technology augments product quality, reduces waste and optimizes shipping routes, thereby minimizing energy consumption.
- Sustainable gel packs: Pelton Shepherd Industries is leading the way with eco-friendly gel packs. Our uniquely sustainable TerraTemp packs are excellent for products requiring precise temperature control. They’re available in various sizes and have a eutectic point of 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The Terra Ice™ gel packs are the only 100% compostable gel packs, meaning end users can toss the whole pack into a compost bin. Our Vortec Ice™ gel packs are another sustainable choice — they are cost-effective and drain- and septic-safe.
Transition to Sustainable Gel Packs From Pelton Shepherd Industries
Traditional cold chain packaging methods often rely on materials that are harmful to the environment. Investing in sustainable packaging solutions can lead to long-term cost savings through reduced waste disposal fees, lower energy consumption during transportation and improved operational efficiency. Your business can also build a better relationship with end users and gain an edge over other businesses by proactively preparing for future packaging sustainability regulations.
Whether you need to transport perishables or pharmaceuticals, Pelton Shepherd Industries offers eco-friendly gel packs for cold chain shipping. Our sustainable gel packs provide efficient temperature control that reduces the risk of spoilage while ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.
For more information on how our sustainable gel packs can meet your cold shipping needs, get in touch with our team.
