Temperature-sensitive goods – they can be a little bit difficult to pack and protect, more so than non-perishable products. Without the right strategy for packaging, such goods might not make it to your client in the right state. This is where insulated shipping kits come in handy.
The key is to incorporate these kits and take advantage of their components, materials, purpose, and structure – they’ll make shipping temperature-sensitive goods easier. Keep reading this ultimate guide to insulated shipping kits to find out the components that make them ideal, how to select them, how to use them, and the difference they will make to your shipping process.
Key Purpose of Insulated Shipping Kits
Insulated shipping kits serve a key purpose. Manufacturers create them to ensure that your temperature-sensitive goods do not incur severe damage when you ship them, and if we look at an example, we can see how this packaging might be important. In moments when there are temperature fluctuations, products such as pharmaceuticals or food can be spoiled.
Extreme temperatures make pharmaceutical products lose their effectiveness because the active ingredients can break down, while food products can get easily spoiled. It’s with insulated shipping kits that you can prevent this from happening – their key purpose is to help you transport such goods.
Now, there are other products you’ll be able to protect when you use these kits. They serve the purpose of protecting the following items:
- Chemicals
- Vaccines
- Cosmetics
- Electronics
You might be hoping to ensure that these types of goods reach their destination in the perfect condition and could be concerned that they will get spoiled along the way because of extreme temperatures. Yet, you won’t need to be concerned when using insulated shipping boxes. But how do they protect these goods? It all comes down to the components and materials.
Insulated Shipping Kits: Main Components and Materials
When protecting your temperature-sensitive products during shipping, you’re going to need the right packaging materials. Some lend themselves well to this process because they act as insulators. Let’s take a closer look at the main components and materials of insulated shipping kits and how they help the shipping process:
- Expanded Polystyrene Foam (EPS): EPS is one example of a thermal insulator – it’s able to ensure the temperature remains regulated. Heat transfer is minimized with such a thick, yet lightweight barrier, which lines the inside of the kit.
- Corrugated carton materials: A corrugated material can be found on the exterior of the insulated shipping box. Its role is to offer structural support to the package – but it’s also capable of providing additional insulation to the contents of the kit, shielding the EPS from any extreme weather.
- Tight-fitting lid: These kits come with tight-fitting lids, which also put a stop to heat transfer. Beyond sealing the products inside the kit, they ensure the internal temperature of the package stays constant.
Alternative insulated shipping boxes may use styrofoam materials instead of EPS, and they feature air bubbles inside that act as a type of wall. Together, the air bubbles make it difficult for heat to flow through it.
How Insulated Shipping Boxes Maintain the Integrity of Perishable Products
Since temperature maintenance is key to preventing perishable products from getting spoiled, and these components and features work to maintain the product’s temperature, it’s easy to see how your goods remain protected with these solutions – but let’s consider an example.
You might be shipping cosmetics and want to keep them packaged at a consistent temperature. You’ll be able to place the cosmetics into the kit, in the space that is surrounded by the EPS or styrofoam.
Once you place the tight-fitting lid on top and seal the package, the materials minimize heat transfer, and the cosmetics can be shipped in a constant temperature from your warehouse to the customer.
The corrugated carton materials support the EPS, but provide that additional layer of temperature flow maintenance, so throughout the journey, any cosmetics within the box stay fixed in a space where the temperature will not plummet or increase significantly.
Best Ways to Select Insulated Shipping Boxes
If you want to use these kits, you will first need a way to choose them – and getting the right one for your shipment and specific products is key. There are a few best ways to select insulated shipping boxes, which we’ve listed just below:
Consider the Dimensions of the Products
You’ll need to consider the dimensions of the products you ship when selecting one of these kits. They are available in various sizes, but you can choose one by first laying out the products in the way you would pack them and measuring the amount of space they occupy. This step will give you a rough idea of the correct-sized insulated shipping kit that’s right for your shipment.
For this step, it’s important to consider that the inner dimensions will differ from the outer ones. For example, an insulated shipping kit might have an external length of 29 inches, but the inner length might be 26 inches, so keep this in mind when purchasing your packaging.
Give Some Thought to the Type of Insulated Packaging Solution
Each insulated packaging solution is intended for different uses. To ensure you select the correct option, give some thought to the type of insulated packaging solution. Do you require a reusable option to align with your environmentally friendly ethos? Is a rigid solution ideal for your products? Do you need to pack the products fairly quickly into the kit?
Some solutions can meet all of these requirements and more, so match your shipping strategy and requirements to the qualities of the insulated packaging solution for the best results.
Think About Additional Space
However, you might want to factor in the spaces needed for the client to remove the products from the insulated shipping boxes, and this will require you to think about additional space. Include extra space considerations when selecting the insulated shipping box by adding an inch or more required space before placing your order.
For example, if your products occupy 25 inches in their length, 18 inches in their width, and 9 inches in their height, a box measuring 26 inches by 20 inches by 10.5 inches will be ideal for your shipment, as it provides the extra space that makes accessing the goods easier for the client.
Look at the Durability of the Insulated Shipping Box
Durable insulated shipping boxes will help you protect your products accordingly, so you’ll want to look at the durability of the insulated shipping box before you buy it. Most options will be very durable, yet some can be stronger than others. Therefore, compare each option to find one that has sufficient thickness in terms of the inner lining and the optimum weight.
For instance, some may have an edge crush testing rating of 32 which means they can stand up to high amounts of force in the sense of 32 pounds per inch. This will contribute to greater levels of protection and ensure your products reach their destination without damage.
Take the Temperature Range into Account
You should take the temperature range into account because each product will require a specific temperature to last the journey. For example, some healthcare products that are frozen will need extremely low temperatures, and for this you might want to add gel packs for cooling purposes. Therefore, further additional space might be required to fit the cooling gel packs into the package.
Best Practices to Follow when Using Insulated Shipping Supplies
Now that you have your insulated shipping boxes, you are going to need to put them to use. There are several best practices to follow when using insulated supplies, including the steps listed below. Ensure you try to:
- Use a cold pack when needed: If you’re shipping food products, a cold pack that contains gel components can be ideal for keeping the goods cool. You can select the ideal-sized packs, freeze them, and add them to the shipping box to keep the food in a non-perishable state.
- Incorporate void fill to eliminate spaces: To ensure the air circulation is kept to a minimum within the shipping box, it’s a best practice to incorporate void fill. This step can be important because air circulation can lead to fluctuations in temperature, and reducing this circulation keeps temperatures stable. You may consider packing peanuts to achieve this step.
- Seal and label the container well: Remember to seal your container well to ensure all products remain securely inside. You can complete this by considering carton sealing tape, which, thanks to its specially-made adhesive, will not warp under extreme temperatures. Then, ensure your kit is labeled well to ensure your courier knows the products are temperature-sensitive.
Find Insulated Shipping Boxes at The Packaging Company
Keeping temperature-sensitive products protected against temperature fluctuations can really make an impact on your client, and choosing and using them doesn’t need to be difficult. Insulated shipping solutions will ensure temperature fluctuations are kept to a minimum.
If you’re looking for more tips on this packaging or trying to find a place to stock up on it, we have both. Find insulated shipping boxes at The Packaging Company. Ship temperature-sensitive products to clients in their perfect state.
