Packaging Technology Group launches curbside recyclable shipper for 72-hour cold chain protection

27 Jan 2022 --- Packaging Technology Group (PTG), a leading provider of thermal packaging solutions and services for the biopharmaceutical and life sciences sector, is announcing the cold chain industry’s first extended-duration, curbside recyclable thermal shipper. This new addition to PTG's Truetemp Naturals Line maintains 2-8°C for 72 hours. 

PackagingInsights speaks with Kelly Cinelli, director of sales and marketing at PTG. “To date, achieving 72 hours of thermal protection while maintaining 2-8°C without using vacuum insulated panels (VIP) or polyurethane (PUR) has not been done in our industry,” she says. 

PTG’s team continues to roll out new Truetemp Naturals products at various temperature ranges and durations. The newest innovative design is a cost-effective alternative to VIP and PUR shippers, which are not typically made with environmentally sustainable materials.

Reduced environmental impact
The company highlights its new 72-Hour Truetemp Naturals thermal shipper will be effective throughout the year after qualifying for summer and winter use. 

Cinelli says PTG is devoted to advancing environmentally sustainable alternatives within the pharmaceutical industry. More specifically, the company’s line of 100% curbside recyclable and repulpable products used by several pharmaceutical companies shows an overall 80% decrease in environmental impact compared to a standard EPS shipper. 

“This same comparison study also revealed that Truetemp Naturals shippers decrease waste potential by 85%, water use by 90%, fossil fuel use by 78%, and mineral resource use by 83%,” she adds.

The new shipper is designed for the pharmaceutical, biotech, cell and gene therapy and health care industries.Time challenges
Cinelli explains most of the available solutions on the cold chain market maintain this temperature (2-8°C) for 48 hours or less. PTG’s challenge was to extend this period to 72 hours.

“PTG has a devoted and dedicated engineering team with access to a state-of-the-art laboratory at our headquarters in Massachusetts, US. Our engineers have worked with various insulators and materials to test and create this groundbreaking product.”

She continues by saying that currently, VIP shippers are selected as the solution to protect vaccine shipments, which has taxed the supply chain and left many companies seeking alternatives. VIP can also be cost-prohibitive, as managing a reusable program can be complex for some organizations. 

“PTG has been engineering and designing [environmentally] sustainable shippers for over three years, and this extended-duration shipper was the natural next step for our team,” says Cinelli.

Broad applicability
The new shipper extends the company’s Truetemp Naturals line, which launched three years ago.

“The primary difference is the line now protects products that ship for extended durations,” Cinelli continues. The sales and marketing director says the shipper is “ideal” for any product that needs to maintain a temperature of 2-8°C while in transit. 

“The solution was designed to protect clinical trial materials, medicinal products, vaccines, therapeutics, and other biologics.”

PTG’s new thermal shipper is currently available in a small size. However, the medium and large shippers will also be launched within a few weeks, she confirms. 

The product is designed for the pharmaceutical, biotech, cell and gene therapy and health care industries, safeguarding valuable shipments for extended durations.

In related news, thermoformed packaging specialist Charpak has helped develop a new tray for the safe storage and transportation of refrigerated pharmaceutical products, which the company says will “revolutionize” the distribution of vaccines worldwide.

By Natalie Schwertheim