Sustainable pharmaceutical transport: packaging solutions for temperature-sensitive drugs

The pharmaceutical sector faces a complex challenge: how do you combine strict safety requirements, temperature control and traceability with sustainable and future-proof transport? In a world where carbon emissions, energy consumption and packaging waste are increasingly under the magnifying glass, making pharmaceutical transport sustainable is no longer a luxury. It is a necessary step.

Whether medicines, vaccines or laboratory materials: temperature-controlled shipping within the cold chain requires accuracy, GDP compliance and reliable logistics solutions. Fortunately, there are an increasing number of technologies, logistics innovations and packaging concepts that show that sustainability and drug safety go perfectly well together. Players such as Coolpack, which specializes in temperature-sensitive packaging, contribute to this with solutions that combine safety with lower environmental impact.

We think with you

Customization for your unique challenge

Choose solutions that fully meet your needs. At Coolpack, we’re ready with innovative and reliable products for conditioned transport. Together we will be happy to discuss what works for you. Discover what’s possible. Click below for more information.

Specialist in the market

For conditioned transport

Always a solution

Perfectly tailored to your situation

Fast delivery

Your products safe and fresh

Trusted quality

Known to perform time and again

The need for sustainability in pharmaceutical transportation

Pharmaceutical transportation is vital. Medicines and medical products must be transported under precise conditions, with strict temperature control, traceability and according to Good Distribution Practices (GDP) guidelines. At the same time, there is growing social and legal pressure to also contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions, waste streams and energy consumption.

International frameworks such as the GHG Protocol, ISO 14083 and national climate goals are forcing the industry to come up with sustainable solutions. This applies to the entire chain, from packaging to means of transport and software. The challenge is to make this change without compromising on reliability or regulatory compliance.

Environmental pressures within pharmaceutical logistics

The transport of pharmaceutical goods puts a solid ecological pressure on the chain. Some key enablers:

Energy-intensive refrigeration and freezer solutions.
CO₂ emissions from diesel trucks and return trips without cargo
Non-recyclable packaging materials and excessive single-use plastics
Inefficient route planning and fragmented deliveries

External factors also play a role. Consider stricter return policies at pharmacies, an increase in home delivery of medication and new legislation around packaging waste and emission standards. The sum total makes sustainability urgent and complex.

EPS box 45 liters, incl. Lid

€ 28,95 excl. btw

600 x 400 x 400 mm

View product

Sample Pack 0 °C 680 grams

€ 1,00 excl. btw

1 piece(s) per box

150 x 200 x 40 mm

View product

Sample PCM Pack Easifreeze -16 °C 680 grams

€ 2,00 excl. btw

1 piece(s) per box

150 x 200 x 40 mm

View product

Solutions for sustainable pharmaceutical transportation

Sustainable packaging materials

An important part of the sustainability challenge lies with packaging materials. The industry is shifting toward reusable and recyclable solutions, with a growing role for:

Insulation boxes made from recycled or biobased materials, such as Coolpack’s EcoCoolBox made from cotton fibers
Reusable transport packaging, such as long-life EPP boxes
Water or cellulose packs as an alternative to traditional cooling elements based on chemical gels

These choices reduce waste and fossil resource use while maintaining temperature stability.

Electrification and carbon efficiency.

Transporters are switching to electric vehicles, EURO6 trucks or even biogas-powered cars. Again, packaging is included in the sustainability strategy. Lighter materials and more efficient stackability reduce energy consumption per shipment.

Coolpack responds to this with packaging solutions that are optimally loadable and provide long-term temperature control without an external energy source. This eliminates the use of cooling engines or active units on shorter routes.

Smarter logistics and last mile

Sustainability is also in chain optimization. By avoiding empty miles, using local depots, bundling trips and using AI-driven route planning, the last mile can be much more efficient and cleaner.

In addition, return logistics of packaging is gaining ground. This ties in with the commitment to reusable packaging systems and saves both costs and resources. Coolpack facilitates this with products that are robust enough for multiple use and easy to return.

Balancing sustainability and compliance

The industry may become more sustainable, but must meet strict requirements around medication safety. Consider:

GDP guidelines for temperature, traceability and hygiene
VWS and IGJ legislation on transport documentation and compliance
GxP standards at manufacturers, wholesalers and logistics providers

The best innovations connect on both fronts. Think packaging that meets temperature criteria, is reusable and fits into closed return flows. Coolpack develops such solutions in collaboration with logistics partners within the Netherlands and Europe.

Conclusion: sustainability as an integral part of pharmaceutical logistics

Sustainable pharmaceutical transport is no longer a pipe dream, but a current area of interest. It requires cooperation between manufacturers, transporters, pharmacies and packaging specialists. Whether it is about reducing CO₂ emissions, improving efficiency or reducing waste streams: the profit often lies in smart innovations at the detail level.

Organizations looking to integrate sustainability without compromising on safety would do well to invest in circular packaging, optimized distribution and reliable technology. In this, Coolpack is one of the parties whose proven solutions show that sustainability and accuracy do not exclude each other, but rather strengthen each other.

Sustainability Coolpack and CSR

At Coolpack, we are aware of our responsibility to contribute to society. Both in terms of sustainability and society as a social body.

We weigh the interests of the customer, the environment and society, as well as ourselves as an organization, in all business decisions. In this way, we achieve balanced business operations and together ensure an ever better world.