Preparing Perishable Items for Shipment
Perishable products may be subjected to harsh environmental conditions, such as excessive temperature or humidity, on the way to their destination. However, with careful packaging, you can protect your products by packing your goods in the appropriate temperature protection Foam cooler.
During shipping, insulation and refrigerants are key to preserving your products like seafood, plants, meat and fruits as well as dairy, medical and chemical products. With the proper combination of insulation and refrigerants, you can maintain products within specific temperature ranges. You can keep products frozen, or prevent products from freezing. You can prevent melting and thawing in hot weather and minimize the effects of short-term temperature variations.
General Guidelines for Packaging Perishables
- Package shipments to withstand handling in different orientations.
- Use a refrigerant that will keep products within the required temperature range. Use gel coolants for refrigerating products between 32°F (0°C) and 60°F (16° C). Use Dry Ice for frozen items.
- Dry ice (carbon dioxide solid, UN 1845) is considered a dangerous good/hazardous material for air transport and requires special handling. Check your carrier for Dri ice shipping regulations details.
- Ship with insulated foam containers with a minimum of 1½"-thick walls.
- Bag perishable productss that can melt, or thaw, or shipments that contain liquid, using minimum 2-mil watertight plastic bags.
- Place foam containers inside sturdy outer corrugate boxes.
- Include the address and 24-hour phone number of both the shipper and the recipient on each
Keep Products Refrigerated During Transit
- Gel coolants or Dry Ice are preferred refrigerants.
- Freeze the coolants according to the manufacturerÕs guidelines.
- Precool the insulated container, if possible.
- If your shipment contains liquid or perishable products that could contain liquids, double-bag the products using minimum 2-mil watertight plastic bags and line the inside of the foam container with a minimum 2-mil plastic liner and absorbent material.
- Arrange products inside the insulated container to allow space for coolants.
- Place a sufficient number of coolants on top of and around the product.
- Fill all void space with dunnage such as Foam Peanuts or rolled newspaper to prevent product movement.
- Close and seal the liner bag securely.
- Place the insulated container inside a corrugated outer box.
- Close and securely seal the corrugated box with pressure-sensitive plastic tape. Apply the tape over all box flaps and seams. Bag Closure Instructions Insulated container lid Packaging