Common terms in cold chain packaging
A short glossary to help navigate the world of temperature-controlled shipping.
Materials
- EPS (expanded polystyrene, tempex, styrofoam)
- Lightweight insulation material consisting of >98% air. Good thermal performance at low cost. Recyclable via specialized collection.
- EPP (expanded polypropylene)
- Stronger and more reusable than EPS. Suitable for hundreds of trips in return logistics. Slightly more expensive per piece but much lower cost per shipment when reused.
- Honeycomb cardboard
- Cardboard with honeycomb-shaped cells that trap air. Fully recyclable in paper recycling. Good performance for shipments up to 24 hours.
- VIP (vacuum insulated panel)
- Advanced insulation panels for extreme performance (48-72h+). Mainly used in pharma.
Coolants
- Ice pack
- Pre-frozen water bag that melts and absorbs heat. Standard coolant for 2-8 °C shipments.
- Gel pack
- Similar to ice pack but with gel filling. Melts slightly slower and leaks less if damaged.
- PCM (phase change material)
- Advanced coolant that melts at a fixed temperature (e.g., 5 °C). Keeps the box exactly at that temperature, not colder. Mainly in pharma.
- Eutectic plate
- Reusable cooling plate with 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 air freight pharma. Cooled Solutions supplies packaging that meets the specifications required by IATA CEIV-certified airlines.
- FSC
- Forest Stewardship Council — certification for responsibly managed wood/cardboard.
- Food-contact / EU 10/2011
- European regulations for materials in direct contact with food.
Logistics terms
- Cold chain
- The uninterrupted 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. Cooled Solutions achieves >98%.
- Reefer
- Refrigerated container or truck — self-cooling transport.
Packaging terms
- U-value
- Measure of heat conduction through a material. Lower = better insulation.
- R-value
- The inverse: measure of thermal resistance. Higher = better insulation.
- Container rain
- Condensation that forms in a sea container due to temperature fluctuations. Prevent with desiccant bags.
Term missing? Let us know — we’re happy to add to the list.