Common terms in cold chain packaging
A short glossary to help you find your way around temperature-controlled shipping.
Materials
- EPS (expanded polystyrene, Styrofoam)
- Lightweight insulation material that is over 98% air. Good thermal performance at a low price. Recyclable through specialised collection.
- EPP (expanded polypropylene)
- Stronger and more reusable than EPS. Suitable for hundreds of trips in return logistics. Slightly more expensive per unit but much lower cost per shipment when reused.
- Honeycomb cardboard
- Cardboard with honeycomb-shaped cells that trap air. Fully recyclable with waste paper. Good performance for shipments of up to 24 hours.
- VIP (vacuum insulated panel)
- Advanced insulation panels for extreme performance (48-72 h+). Mainly used in pharma.
Coolants
- Ice pack
- Pre-frozen water pack that melts and absorbs heat in the process. Standard coolant for 2-8 °C shipments.
- Gel pack
- Similar to an ice pack but with a gel filling. Melts slightly more slowly and leaks less if damaged.
- PCM (phase change material)
- Advanced coolant that melts at a fixed temperature (e.g. 5 °C). Keeps the box at exactly that temperature, not colder. Mainly used in pharma.
- Eutectic plate
- Reusable cooling plate with a fixed melting point. For industrial and return logistics applications.
Standards and certification
- GDP (Good Distribution Practice)
- European standard for pharma distribution. Requires validated packaging, temperature monitoring and documentation.
- IATA CEIV Pharma
- Certification for pharma air freight. Cooled Solutions supplies packaging that meets the specifications required by IATA CEIV-certified airlines.
- FSC
- Forest Stewardship Council, certification mark for responsibly managed wood/cardboard.
- Food-contact / EU 10/2011
- European regulation for materials in direct contact with foodstuffs.
Logistics terms
- Cold chain
- The unbroken chain of temperature-controlled steps from producer to end user.
- Transit time
- The time a shipment is in transit. Determines which packaging you need.
- OTIF (On Time In Full)
- Logistics KPI: deliveries that arrive on time and complete. An OTIF percentage relates to a defined measurement period and delivery agreement.
- Reefer
- Refrigerated container or truck, a self-cooling means of transport.
Packaging terms
- U-value
- A measure of heat conduction through a material. Lower = better insulation.
- R-value
- The inverse: a measure of thermal resistance. Higher = better insulation.
- Container rain
- Condensation that forms in a sea container due to temperature fluctuations. Prevent it with desiccant bags.
Missing a term? Let us know, we will gladly add it to the list.