As the life sciences supply chain becomes more complex and patient-centric, the importance of packaging in the cold chain has never been more critical—or more scrutinised.
“The drugs that are made today fly around the world many, many different times from API to finished product, so there’s a lot of care to ensure the efficacy of that product,” Steve Popescu, CSO and Head of Global Life Science Sales at ProtekPharma, stated.
“You can face all kinds of disruptions: weather events, geopolitical instability, and, as we all saw, global pandemics. Who would’ve imagined, not long ago, that a pandemic would be a defining challenge for our industry?
“These experiences underscored the need for strong contingency planning. At ProtekPharma, we’ve built our operations around that principle. We don’t rely on a single manufacturing site—we operate multiple facilities and service centres across different regions. That way, if one location is affected, another can immediately step in to provide support. It’s about building resilience into the supply chain.”
Green option
Today, the pharmaceutical logistics industry is heavily focused on sustainable solutions.
“The term “sustainability” is often used broadly, and its meaning can vary significantly. Does it mean compostable? Does it mean reusable? At ProtekPharma, we believe it can mean both,” Popescu outlined.
“We offer a range of sustainable packaging solutions. And we don’t stop at the product itself—we offer a full-service reuse model. With just a simple email, phone call, or text, we coordinate the return of used packaging.
“From there, it’s brought back to our facility, where it’s thoroughly cleaned, recertified, and prepared for reuse. Then, it’s redeployed. That’s what real sustainability looks like: a closed-loop system that combines environmental responsibility with operational efficiency.”
Data delivers precision
Data and design are now more interconnected than ever. Temperature tracking and real-time analytics have shifted packaging from guesswork to precision.
“Years ago, we operated on the idea of overkill—just make it thicker and you’ll be safe,” Popescu explained. “Now, we measure everything. We know the exact exposure time and temperature, and we can fine-tune packaging accordingly. That saves money and improves performance.”
“Instead of guessing what temperatures a product might be exposed to during transit, we can now track that data precisely: how long the product was at a given temperature and under what conditions. With that information, we can design packaging that’s optimised for performance and efficiency.
“It’s about precision. We don’t want to overpay for materials we don’t need, and we certainly don’t want to compromise protection. That balance—driven by data—is one of the key lessons and advancements in our industry today.”
Learn and expand
As global demand for temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals continues to rise, there’s abundant opportunities to expand into new markets but, Popescu is clear that, first, “you need to put in the time, do the work, and truly understand how things operate on the ground.”
In practice, Popescu believes that means walking the supply chain, seeing how the product moves, and experiencing the process firsthand.
“There’s always something to learn, whether it’s a fresh product, a smarter solution, or a more efficient process. Continuous education and curiosity are essential in a field that evolves as rapidly as ours.”
