What Is Green Thermal Packaging?

Thermal packaging allows goods and products that need to remain refrigerated or frozen to be shipped to distant locations. As environmental consciousness has become an increasingly important aspect of business operations in nearly every industry, the need for more environmentally friendly thermal packaging increased. While most packaging materials, like plastic, are recyclable, a large majority of those materials are never recovered for recycling, which means they still have a negative effect on the environment.

Green thermal packaging uses materials that are significantly more sustainable than traditional thermal packaging materials. Many companies have sought new ways to make their processes more eco-friendly and green packaging is a great way to do so. Learn more about green thermal packaging and why to consider using it.

What Is Green Thermal Packaging Made Of?

While some aspects of green thermal packaging are often recyclable, in many cases, green packaging goes beyond recycling. Depending on the manufacturer and what is being shipped, the materials for green thermal packaging may vary. Some of the most common materials include biodegradable plastics, plant-based plastics and other recycled products.

Ultimately, the goal is to avoid using traditional materials like polyethylene plastics, styrofoam and multi-layered packaging, as these materials either end up sitting in landfills for hundreds of years or polluting the environment. There are even completely biodegradable, compostable and water-soluble options that can be safely returned to the earth, like green foam boxes.

Green packaging also aims to reduce the carbon footprint left by the production of traditional packing materials. For example, fossil fuels are most often used as an energy source when producing packing materials and plastics, which release significant amounts of carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere. The production of green thermal packaging often uses alternative energy sources like wind, biofuels or solar energy to help reduce the impact production has on the environment.

At SourcePak, we’re proud to ship with some of the most innovative green thermal packaging materials available. Here’s what we use to make thermal packaging more eco-friendly:

• Insulated liners: The TSS Renewliner is one of the most sustainable temperature-controlled insulators available. These liners are unique from others because they’re made from plastic bottles recovered from the ocean and are 100% recyclable themselves. Renewliner performs as a top-of-the-line insulator while simultaneously supporting sustainable packaging and removing harmful waste from the environment.
• Refrigerant gel packs: Nordic Drain Safe® is the first gel refrigerant that can be disposed of down the drain. It’s non-toxic and can be safely processed through septic or municipal wastewater systems. These durable gel packs are long-lasting and reusable. Nordic Drain Safe® gel refrigerant packs offer similar performance levels as traditional gel ice packs, but these are 100% safely disposable in any drain.
• Paperboard: Paperboard packaging is an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic packaging, as it’s inherently recyclable. Manufacturing paper products requires the use of natural resources, though SourcePak ensures these resources are obtained and managed sustainably.

These three components allow us to help our customers get one step closer to sustainability.

What Are the Benefits of Using Green Thermal Packaging?

So, how is the use of green thermal packaging and sustainable packing materials beneficial? Here are some ways green thermal packaging can benefit your company and the environment:

• Reduce pollutants entering the environment: Green packaging avoids harmful plastics, replacing them with environmentally friendly materials. This helps reduce the volume of plastic pollutants that enter the environment. If components of your green packaging do make their way into the environment, their effect will be significantly less harmful.
• Limit waste sitting in landfills: Many traditional packing materials end up in landfills rather than get recycled. Green thermal packaging is designed to be reused and safely disposed of. Some green materials can even be composted, so if they do end up in a landfill, they’ll only be sitting there for a short amount of time.
• Easily disposable: Most types of green packaging are either biodegradable or recyclable, which makes disposal easy. Green thermal packaging is designed with ease in mind, so the steps to dispose of the materials are simple. For example, with our Nordic Drain Safe® gel packs, you can avoid taking additional steps to ensure the material is properly disposed of because it’s safe to simply pour down the drain. The gel bag can then be recycled. Easy disposal makes sustainability easier in general.
• Improve brand image: Customers and clients care about the environment, too. In fact, using green packaging can create a positive impression for your brand and company as a whole. This shows customers their values align with yours, making them feel more positive towards your brand and products.

• Reduce your carbon footprint: Using eco-friendly packaging materials helps reduce your company’s carbon footprint. Even though you aren’t the ones manufacturing the materials, you’re still using them, which requires them to be made. With less consumption of resources, you’re contributing to a smaller carbon footprint, which is extremely beneficial for many aspects of the environment and helps reduce other environmental concerns.
• Meet environmental goals: If your company is environmentally conscious, you likely have environmental goals in addition to other business goals. Eco-friendly thermal packaging can help you improve your overall sustainability and get closer to reaching those environmental goals.

What Industries Should Use Green Thermal Packaging?

If your company needs to ship products that need to stay refrigerated, you should be using green thermal packaging. this type of sustainable packaging can be used in a range of industries from medical and pharmaceutical to health and food. For example, the pharmaceutical industry can use green thermal packaging to transport drugs that must stay under a certain temperature. The food industry uses a lot of green packaging, from candy to dog food companies.

Green packaging can be used when transporting goods from factories to retailers or directly to consumers. Online ordering has allowed many companies to reach a larger customer market. With more online orders being placed each day, more and more packaging materials are needed. If you’re shipping refrigerated goods of any kind, consider using green thermal packaging.

Custom Green Thermal Packaging Solutions From SourcePak

Regardless of your industry or experience with green packaging, choosing a sustainable packaging provider like SourcePak is crucial. Your company likely has unique packaging requirements, which is why SourcePak strives to provide custom solutions for your needs. From design solutions to fulfillment assemblies, we can help you reach marketing goals and increase customer satisfaction while also being environmentally friendly.

To find out more about how SourcePak can create green thermal packaging solutions for you, contact our expert team today!