Temperature Controlled Packaging Solutions: A Novel Innovation Dominating the Food & Beverage and Pharma Industries

In today’s world, the changing nature of lifestyle habits and dietary preferences is attributed to globalization, industrialization, and urbanization. The emergence of new economic models and employment opportunities in metropolitan cities and urban areas have altered the daily routines of people living in various industrial towns. The busy schedule followed by people in urban areas has increased the demand for packaged and on-the-go foods. However, various new fast-food companies and beverage brands have been established in recent years, further reducing the consumption of frozen and packaged food items. The need for specialized packaging solutions has risen in the last few years. 

During the post-pandemic period, the demand for different pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and medications increased drastically. Since the virus was spreading at an alarming rate in different countries of the world, these drugs were transported across the globe with the help of temperature-controlled packaging solutions that maintain their integrity and purity. Apart from food & beverages and pharmaceutical industries, these unique packaging technologies are also widely used in chemical manufacturing and consumer goods industries. 

Increased Adoption of Temperature Controlled Packaging Solutions 

Over the years, the demand and use of temperature-controlled packaging solutions has increased significantly in various end-use industries. To cater to the unique needs of each of these sectors, packaging technology developers have come up with innovative designs and types that suit the distinct process requirements of that industry. For instance, active temperature-controlled packaging technology has recently been devised which involves the use of an external power source to regulate the temperature inside the container. 

On the other hand, semi-active or dynamic technology features cold-storage cartons whose temperature is changed using an electric regulation system that heats the contents as per the outside environment and other such parameters. In the past few years, with the advancements in materials sciences, a static type of temperature-controlled packaging solution has been devised that uses eutectic plates or phase-change materials to create a microclimate within the container, thus helping maintain the purity of the goods that are being transported.   

Recently, Allied Market Research published a report on the temperature controlled packaging solutions market which highlighted that the industry is expected to gather a huge revenue in the coming period. The governmental regulations put in place by developed and developing countries mandating food & beverage and pharmaceutical companies to use secure, hygienic, and safe packaging technologies have led to a massive expansion in the industry. 

For instance, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has established several norms and regulations that prescribe certain minimum requirements for handling and transporting drugs and medications within different states and regions in the country. The Food Safety Modernization Act passed in 2011 by the then US Government also makes it compulsory for companies to adopt technologies that prevent adulteration of food and beverage products being manufactured in the United States. Along with this, even Canada and the European Union have set standards that compel personal care products manufacturers to switch to temperature-controlled packaging solutions. Moreover, the WHO has released guidelines on the international packaging and shipping of drugs to ensure the sale and marketing of uncontaminated drugs. 

Along with rise in governmental regulations, a growth in awareness regarding health, immunity, hygiene, and sanitation among people across the globe in the post-pandemic period has played an important role in the transition toward temperature-controlled packaging technologies. Naturally, cosmetics brands and pharmaceutical companies have invested heavily in R&D activities to design state-of-the-art packaging solutions. Certain leading players have even launched innovative products to address the evolving industry demands and expand their footprint in the sector. 

For instance, in November 2020, Softbox, a major packaging technology developer, unveiled Tempcell™ ECO, a unique solution designed specifically for life science, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology companies. The product comes in four different sizes to help logistics businesses package the items and deliver them conveniently. John Hammes, General Manager of Softbox Systems, stated in the press release that the main aim behind launching Tempcell™ ECO is to offer a wide range of temperature-controlled packaging products to pharma businesses in the US and Canada. 

Transition Toward Sustainability and Eco-friendly Packaging 

Traditionally, the temperature-controlled packaging solutions industry has been heavily reliant on plastics and non-biodegradable polymers which are a major source of pollution and environmental degradation. As a result, the sector has been highly criticized by environmentalists and civil societies for its role in global warming and climate change. Since the last 2-3 decades, governments, private companies, and non-for-profit organizations have been consciously making efforts to reduce carbon emissions and minimize the impact of manufacturing and packaging companies on the global ecology. Many developed countries such as the US, China, India, the UK, France, Japan, Germany, etc., have declared their intention of achieving net-zero goals in the second half of the 21st century. The transition of the temperature-controlled packaging industry toward sustainable solutions is an important part of this journey toward net-zero emissions. 

Companies such as Thermopak have taken various initiatives to realign their operations as per the changing dynamics of the industry. Recently, they have developed thermal liners and eco-friendly refrigeration bricks that help regulate the temperature effectively. Conventional packaging liners are manufactured using Styrofoam which are non-biodegradable, thus disturbing the natural balance of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. To address this issue, Thermopak has started developing products using kraft paper and corn starch, thus reducing the reliance on plastic and polymer items. Internal tests conducted by the company have shown that these sustainable solutions are extremely effective at maintaining the temperature range between 2-8°C. The 100% recyclability and high-quality insulation properties offered by these eco-friendly products have made them quite popular in the pharmaceutical and food processing industries. 

Similarly, Aerofybers Technologies, a packaging company, has recently developed a cellulose-based aerogel solution that involves the controlled release of hydrophobic aerogels having low thermal conductivity. Moreover, this patented technology has a high liquid absorption capacity which makes it ideal for thermal insulation applications. In December 2022, Isaac Benito and Albert Calleja, the two main researchers behind this aerogel solution, won the Rotary Grant in Entrepreneurship for their contribution to the development of advanced sustainable packaging technology. 

Apart from sustainability, the preference for green phase-change materials (PCM) has increased as they are free from toxins and allergens which makes it ideal for storing and transporting food products and pharmaceuticals. In September 2023, Pluss Advanced Technologies (PLUSS), a key packaging company in Haryana, India, announced the launch of two new temperature-controlled packaging solutions, viz., Celsure® VIP Multi-Use Parcel Shipper and Celsure® XL Pallet Shipper. Samit Jain, MD, PLUSS, stated that the product has been developed keeping in mind the need to improve India’s cold-storage pharmaceutical supply chain in the long run. As per industry experts, these new product lines are expected to strengthen the foothold of the company in the industry in the coming period. 

Winding up 

The temperature controlled packaging solutions industry is expected to witness huge growth in the near future on account of its increasing applicability in food & beverages and pharmaceutical industries. In addition, the shift toward sustainability and the development of innovative eco-friendly products is anticipated to create numerous growth opportunities in the sector in the coming period. 

✍ **𝑨𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓: Akhilesh Prabhugaonkar