Cold chain challenges: Navigating the world of temperature-controlled packaging for Pharmaceuticals

There are countless medications that require cold storage and transportation. This covers anything from injectables, liquids, gels, creams or drops.

Temperature-controlled packaging is paramount for these medications to remain intact and to be usable for the patient.

Ensuring that these products remain at the appropriate temperature throughout their entire journey is a logistical and technical challenge.

The requirement for a seamless cold chain is crucial to ensure there are no compromises to the product. As well as no safety concerns or any significant financial losses.

The growing demand for cold chain logistics in pharmaceuticals

The increasing demand for healthcare is reshaping the pharmaceutical industry. Emphasising the need for agile logistics to keep up. Especially with online ordering becoming more prominent in pharmaceuticals.

Temperature-sensitive medicines make up around 35% of the global pharmaceutical market. Many products requiring cold storage and transportation have an optimal temperature range. Most of these can be stored at temperatures that a domestic fridge can maintain.

However, the entry of more sophisticated treatments in recent years require specific temperatures, outside the 2-8°C range.

This highlights the importance for cold chain logistics in this industry.

Why cold chain management is crucial for temperature sensitive medications

Medications that degrade because of exposure to the incorrect temperature cannot be used.

For example, insulin for diabetics, which is crucial for keeping them alive, often needs to be refrigerated. Without temperature-controlled packaging, this medication would arrive to the patient in an unusable state.

Temperature-controlled packaging is responsible for preserving the quality and effectiveness of medications around the world.

Challenges in cold chain pharmaceuticals

There are two main challenges in the supply chain of temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals: transit and transition.

Transit issues

It becomes more difficult to control the environment once the product leaves the factory or wholesalers. Unusual weather can put a strain on the technology used to ensure a constant temperature. Especially once the shipment is in the air as it becomes more difficult to rectify the issue.

Transition issues

Passing shipments from one system to another is an opportunity for errors or accidents to occur.

You need to transfer items in an equally well-controlled and procedure-based way.

Working with trusted partners who can detail their transfer protocols and monitor the conditions is critical. The same standards must apply throughout the whole journey.

Minimising spoilage

Packaging plays a critical role in preventing spoilage. This also minimises the risk of passing spoiled products on to healthcare services.

If medication is not stored at the right temperature, they can lose their integrity and risk being damaged or spoiled.

• Packaging needs to ensure the safety of the personnel handling the shipment. Making sure there are no sharps and the temperatures are workable.
• The packaging also needs to be secure. Avoiding any interference, tampering, counterfeiting or theft of the product.
• Minimising spoilage also contributes to sustainability efforts, reducing waste.

Smart packaging solutions can deliver the product in the required condition.

The role of packaging in ensuring pharmaceutical integrity

Temperature controlled packaging is a key aspect of shipping temperature sensitive products. When maintaining the temperature of products, there are several types of materials used:

• Insulating materials: PLA thermal insulates, Styrofoam, wool, textiles or cardboard structures.
• Phase change materials: Dry ice or refrigerant gel packs.
• Heating materials: Induction drum heaters or powered heating blankets.

Real-time monitoring: The key to preventing cold chain failures

One of the key elements of effective cold chain management is real-time monitoring.

This includes identification of imminent problems to enable corrective action and indicators of any tampering or temperature change. This enables teams to take swift action and detect any weaknesses in the supply chain operations.

How to detect and diagnose cold chain disruptions

Solutions for deterring, detecting and diagnosing issues include:

• Single use temperature indicator labels: Simple labels indicate when cargo has been exposed to temperatures outside the optimal range. Such as WarmMark, FreezeSafe or the FCP Descending Temperature Indicator
• Radio Frequency Identification: Tamper-proof labelling that can monitor shocks or tilting during transportation. This is ideal for shipments that require extra careful handling.

This ensures the product is secure and arrives at its destination in the correct condition.

Building a resilient cold chain

To build a resilient cold chain, pharmaceutical companies must work closely with logistics partners. To maintain effective monitoring systems, all parties in the supply chain must follow strict quality control protocols.

This requires training, standardised procedures and continuous improvements to the cold chain.

Ensuring cold chain success

More products than ever are requiring exact transportation and distribution conditions outside the established refrigeration range.

Nearly one in three cold chain shipments faces spoilage or damage. The industry must adapt to reduce these losses. This will help minimise the impact on patients and healthcare services. In addition to the high costs this causes the pharmaceutical industry.

Temperature-controlled packaging with Swiftpak

Swiftpak has over 45 years of packaging experience. We have the industry knowledge to recommend and provide the best temperature-controlled packaging solution for your needs.

For more information on temperature-controlled packaging for pharmaceuticals contact us today.
 
You can also view our solution page to learn more about temperature-controlled packaging for pharmaceuticals. As well as how Swiftpak can support your requirements.