Cold Chain Packaging Market Report and Forecast 2025-2034

The global cold chain packaging market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.80% during the period 2025-2034. The market is expected to be driven by increasing demand for cold chain goods such as medicines, vaccines, dairy, meat, fruits and vegetables, poultry, vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, etc. North America, Europe and Asia Pacific are expected to be key markets.

Global Market Likely to be Driven by Need to Safely Transport Cold Chain Products

Cold chain logistics entails transporting temperature-sensitive goods from one place to another. The goods warrant particular temperature and humidity conditions during transit. Cooling systems are thus required to keep the product within the required temperature range. In transport, goods may be cooled with the help of gel packs (refrigerants) or insulation. Examples of cold chain products include vaccines, medical products (such as blood, biologics, insulin, medical devices), wine (requires cool temperatures to prevent premature ageing and loss of flavour), frozen desserts, perishable meat, seafood, poultry, fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, milk and milk alternatives, and dairy products.

Efficient Management of Cold Chain Supply Line Important to Maintain Product Integrity

There are generally two types of cold chain packaging systems - active and passive. Active systems comprise cold chain transport containers with modern electric or battery-powered temperature controls. Active systems usually are equipped with built-in cooling units or depend on dry ice as coolant. A system drives cool air from the refrigeration system into the main payload area. Active systems are more appropriate for larger shipments and provide greater security, minimizing the risk of theft. Passive packaging systems generally include polyurethane or polystyrene insulation or vacuum-insulated panels to maintain the product at a fixed temperature for up to ninety-six hours or longer. Passive systems are capable of maintaining tighter temperatures than active systems, and are not vulnerable to internal freezing.

Efficient management of a cold chain supply line important to maintain the integrity of the goods as a breach in the chain could cause significant damage to perishable products, rendering them unusable. For example, in cold chain shipping of pharmaceuticals a fluctuation of over one or two degrees could spoil an entire consignment. Thus, cold chain packaging solutions are important for sectors such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and food and beverage.

Advanced Solutions Likely to Drive Global Cold Chain Packaging Market

Even effective cooling media require a container designed for cold-chain refrigerated shipping. Such a container must merge effective thermal insulation with a packaging format that keeps product as well as cooling media secure. Companies like Sofrigam offer a range of different cold chain packaging solutions, each optimized to a different application. For example, Sofrigam’s original 100l Frizbox® pallet shipper provides an insulated container suited to bulk cold chain shipping of refrigerated products through normal transport over long transit times (up to 120 hours). The Frizbox® XXL Pallet Shipper variant leveraged the concept into a 2,000 litre format that conformed to aircraft unit load device (ULD) standards. This eventually became available in flat pack format for local assembly by a single person within five minutes. Sofribox® is an advanced insulated box specifically designed to safeguard cold chain refrigerated products. The solution could be used to transport chilled or frozen products over long distances while maintaining high resistance to thermal shocks. Clinibox® range of refrigerated packaging is certified to UN3373 standard, and designed to protect and safeguard the transportation of fresh or frozen clinical trial samples for up to 96 hours at temperatures down to -18 o C.

Nordic Cold Chain Solutions offers gel packs, ice wraps, vaccine shippers, cotton mailers, cotton shippers, pallet shippers, pallet covers, etc. Nordic’s Global 456 pallet shipping system is design tested to provide over 110 hours of protection in the summer and more than 120 hours in the winter, designed with convective air flow. It is suitable for long duration domestic and international refrigerated pharmaceutical or biological shipments. Nordic Drain Safe® is the first drain safe product in the industry. The solution offers a long lasting, thermally efficient gel refrigerant which is safe and non-toxic. Nordic Drain Safe® gel refrigerant packs are durable, reusable, and long-lasting poly gel packs. Nordic Cold Chain Solutions’ Sustainable Cotton Shippers are manufactured with biodegradable and compostable insulation made of recycled cotton. The insulation is wrapped in white poly film which has additives that facilitate bio-disintegration, generally within eighteen months. The solution is ideal for food and pharmaceutical parcel shipments; overnight to three-day shipments. Nordic Ice® Bricks are a semi rigid foam brick refrigerant that maintain shape during freezing, thawing, and transit.

Global Cold Chain Packaging Market Segmentation

Global Cold Chain Packaging Market Report and Forecast 2025-2034 offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:

Breakup by Product

• Insulated Containers
• Refrigerants
• Temperature Monitoring Devices

Breakup by End-Use

• Food and Beverage
• Pharmaceuticals
• Others

Breakup by Region

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East and Africa

Key Industry Players in the Global Cold Chain Packaging Market

The report presents a detailed analysis of the following key players in the market, looking into their capacity, and latest developments like capacity expansions, plant turnarounds, and mergers and acquisitions:

• Sonoco ThermoSafe
• Cold Chain Technologies
• Cryopak
• CoolPac
• Nordic Cold Chain Solutions
• Others

The report gives an in-depth insight into the industry by providing a SWOT analysis as well as an analysis of Porter’s Five Forces model.