Sustainable and safe: the cool packaging of the future

For decades, transport packaging led to a shadowy existence. Because many industrial and commercial shippers focused primarily on the cost aspect. Above all, the packaging should be cheap, or “best of all, cost nothing at all”: these are voices from the industry that can sometimes still be heard today. But times change. Especially when shipping temperature-sensitive goods, awareness of the importance of packaging for safe and hygienic transport has increased enormously.

Online trade, ecology, and packaging law as drivers

The boom in online food trading, greater ecological awareness and last but not least, the legislator ensure that high-quality packaging is in increasing demand. Above all, the new packaging law that has been in force since the beginning of 2022 is a key driver for recyclable packaging and more sustainable materials. Furthermore, in more strictly regulated markets, EU directives such as Good Distribution Practices (GDP) ensure that temperature-sensitive medicines arrive safely. En özel ve seksi kadınlardan Bakırköy En Yeni Kadın Escort Alev | İstanbul Escort Bayan sizlerle burada bulusuyor. At the press day of the packaging manufacturer Britwrap, GmbH in mid-August, we had the opportunity to exchange ideas about trends and technical solutions (see photo). The Bremerhaven family company specializes in refrigerated packaging for the transport of food and pharmaceuticals.

Strict standards when shipping medicines

In pharmaceutical logistics, the EU guideline GDP sets the standards. Since its amendment in 2022, this guideline has stipulated that storage conditions must transport temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals. This means that the transport has to be temperature-controlled. Whether this is done actively by cooling the loading space or passively using insulated transport chilled packaging is up to the transport company. Thermal hoods have become established worldwide for palletized goods. They protect medicines that have to be transported within the defined “ambient” temperature corridor of 15 to 25 degrees Celsius from temperature peaks. These usually do not occur in the controlled areas, i.e., in the loading area of ​​a refrigerated truck. But in particular during reloading processes.

Such a risk exists, for example, on the apron of an airport if the pallet is exposed to the weather without protection for several hours before it is loaded onto the aircraft. To increase the thermal load of the mostly very light pharmaceutical pallets. And thus the temperature protection, Britwrap, for example, has developed a solution with water blankets. Here, cooling elements filled with water are placed in the form of a “blanket” over the pallet loaded with the pharmaceutical cargo, and only then is the thermal hood pulled over it. Data logger evaluations show that the water blanket method keeps the target temperatures stable for significantly longer. This higher temperature stability ensures increased protection of pharmaceuticals in terms of the GDP.

Hygiene aspect when shipping food

Temperature protection is one thing, hygiene, and sustainable pack are other central aspects that are particularly important when shipping food online. Because more and more retail chains, food direct marketers and senders of meal kits are using distribution by parcel service. Since the well-known parcel service providers do not use refrigerated vehicles for standard parcel shipping, the temperature must be controlled using a passive cooling solution, i.e., high-performance refrigerated packaging. Here pack manufacturers offer solutions for different price ranges and technical requirements. As a rule, the cooling packaging Ataköy Model Bayan Benan consists of an insulating layer with which the shipping carton is lined, in combination with enclosed cooling packs.

Packaging law promotes recycling and sustainable materials

In online food marketing, manufacturers and shippers and more and more consumers are concerned that sustainable. Or at least fully recyclable packaging is used. One driver is the growing ecological awareness, but an even more important driver is the new packaging law. Valid since January 1st, 2019, it stipulates that those who place packaging on the market use packaging materials that are as sustainable and/or fully recyclable as possible and also register them with the authorities. A newly established “Central Packaging Register Office” monitors the market and imposes fines in case of violations. The use of ecologically advantageous packaging should be promoted.

Inexpensive and ecological – a conflict of goals?

Here, many market participants on the part of the manufacturers. And senders are faced with the conflict of goals that the packaging should. And has been produced ever more cheaply for decades. Now it should be not only cheap but also sustainable. From my point of view, this conflict can only be resolved if the recipient is willing to appreciate the importance of the (transport) packaging for safety.

And hygiene of the shipped product. All relevant players in the food and pharmaceutical industry are required to sensitize the end. Consumers or patients to the fact that packaging and logistics are decisive for product safety. Because if the refrigerated packaging or the transport of temperature-sensitive goods does not meet the safety requirements. En özel ve seksi kadınlardan Bakırköy Genç Bayan Escort Seher | İstanbul Escort Bayan sizlerle burada bulusuyor. This can negatively affect health. Neither manufacturers nor logisticians nor the end consumer should save at the wrong end. We all have a significant influence on what the packaging of the future should look like. And how sustainable it will be.

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