Cutting emissions in the cool chain

Cutting emissions in the cool chain

Air transportation, as compared to truck or sea transportation on a per-distance basis, has a higher global warming potential, so sustainable practices and thinking are critical to reduce the impact and lead to the longevity of the industry. “For the past several years, Sonoco ThermoSafe has ramped up the use of data to inform research and design and improvements for new and existing cool chain roducts. The environmental data is generated by Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) scientific methodology and software,” Vivian Berni, Director of Product Management and Strategic Marketing, Sonoco ThermoSafe, stated.

“How can we source low carbon materials, optimise the design and requirements for the temperature performance, and efficiently deliver the products to our customers to reduce their overall environmental impact.”

The qualified parcel and bulk shippers that companies like Sonoco ThermoSafe offer are only possible with strong partnerships and collaboration with our material suppliers, our own operations, and 3PLs. When sustainability is added into the mix, it is necessary to be aligned with partners in terms of reduction targets or commitments. 

“Sustainability is driving the growth in our rental packaging for both parcel and bulk shipments. The rental packaging service stations should be collocated to allow for optimised transportation, lane management, and effective returns. Where rental packaging is not feasible, we are developing more recyclable,” Berni explained.

Sensitive sector

Particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, the impact of transportation can be significant depending on the lane and the product that is being shipped. The product is typically lightweight medicine or vaccines which means the pallet is volume-limited, not mass-limited. 

To reduce fuel costs for carriers and the pharmaceutical shipper, the pack out should be as efficient as possible, fitting the most amount of product in one pallet and into a bulk shipper. 

“Sonoco ThermoSafe works to design streamlined packaging that is lightweight, easy to load, or reusable,” Berni outlined. “Strength and integrity in cold chain packaging equates to distance and duration. Traditionally, this has been achieved with active containers, however passive technology containers can maintain the same integrity without requiring power consumption during the use phase. Based on our preliminary LCA comparisons, advanced passive containers can lead to a lower global warming potential.

“Rental bulk packaging like the Pegasus ULD is an innovation to maintain the strength and integrity of high-value shipments. The robust high performing container can provide passive temperature control throughout the variable lanes and conditions, maintaining specified temperature up to 300 hours in a single journey. The container can then be returned, reconditioned and reused many times.

“Other sustainable packaging options could include alternative materials or design for recyclability. In these examples, it is imperative to understand the context of the packaging, temperate profile required, and sensitivity of the product. To achieve sustainability, the new package needs to perform the same, if not better than the original package, and solve a problem that our customer was facing, whether that be lower environmental impact or improved recyclability or reusability.”

Standards drive progress

Increasingly, Europe and the United States are passing legislation, such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ruling, respectively, aimed at increasing transparency.   The legislation moves away from traditionally fragmented, voluntary, corporate reporting, to a mandatory and structured framework. Transparency helps increase accountability as well as confidence with investors who can understand any environmental or financial risks. 

  Extended producer responsibility programmes or structures also encourage companies to evaluate their current packaging and incorporate more recycled content, designs or reusable components.

“Much of a company’s impact falls within Scope 3, which is all the indirect emissions from purchased goods and services, end of life of sold products, and upstream/downstream operations,” Berni declared. 

  “We know it’s important to our customers that Sonoco ThermoSafe is also driving sustainability in our business and operations. We will not be able to achieve our reduction targets without working with our key suppliers or logistics partners to understand and reduce our GHG emissions together.

  “Partnerships and collaboration amongst the industry are needed to make progress towards a sustainable industry. This includes close collaboration between the freight forwarders, airlines, shippers and the packaging company. Today, we are on the ground with our partners, ensuring smooth transit between hand offs throughout our customer’s multi-national supply chains and also within our own rental networks.”

Picture of Edward Hardy

Edward Hardy

Having become a journalist after university, Edward Hardy has been a reporter and editor at some of the world's leading publications and news sites. In 2022, he became Air Cargo Week's Editor. Got news to share? Contact me on Edward.Hardy@AirCargoWeek.com

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