[FR] Isothermal packaging: how to choose it to enhance your customer experience?

E-commerce has been booming for some years now. With consumers increasingly keen to place orders over the Internet, all business sectors are getting in on the act. Including the pharmaceutical and food industries – two activities that present challenges in terms of goods delivery.

The biggest of these challenges? Keeping their products cool until they reach the end customer. This is where a key tool comes into play: isothermal packaging.

Find out here what criteria you should use to choose your isothermal packaging, as well as a selection of packaging products that will help you combine safe delivery with the customer experience.

How do you choose your isothermal packaging?

Insulated packaging is essential for a number of industries that require their products to be kept at a rigorous temperature. This is particularly true for home delivery of fresh produce, such as groceries or meals, but also for the following sectors pharmaceutical industrywhere certain medicines have to be kept at a certain temperature.

Behind this isothermal packaging lies a major challenge: maintaining the quality of the goods, for the health of the end customer – but also for the delivery experience.

Hence the criteria that must govern your choice of isothermal packaging. It must be :

Protective, both in terms of impact protection and keeping the product cold.
Enhancing: they should show off your products as much as possible, to create the best possible customer experience when you open your parcels.
Eco-responsible: as far as possible, they should be reusable, recyclable or made from recycled materials, to meet your customers’ ecological expectations.
Suitable for food contact, if they are to contain foodstuffs without over-packaging.

Which isothermal packaging should I choose?

Looking for isothermal packaging for transporting chilled products? Discover here the selection of RAJA products that will help you transport your products safely, while enhancing the customer experience.

Isothermal containers: crates and boxes for the cold

The isothermal container you choose is crucial: it’s the one that will house the cold accumulators, but also give a first impression of your company to the customer who receives it.

	The Isostar® isothermal box isothermal box keeps products at a temperature of +2/+8°C for up to 12 hours, depending on the number of cold accumulators you use. It’s easy and practical to use, and looks great too, thanks to its shiny walls covered in metallised polyethylene film. It’s also recyclable.
	The Isostar® isothermal box keeps products at a temperature of +2/+8°C for at least 24 hours, and can be recycled, for effective and attractive insulation against temperature variations.
	The Cool® cardboard box has an integrated cushioning system that prevents direct contact between the products to be protected and the cold accumulators. It keeps your goods at positive (+2/+8°C) or negative (-20°C) temperatures, even over long periods. It is fully recyclable.
	The Isopro® isothermal cardboard box keeps food products at a temperature of 0/+4°C for 24 to 48 hours, depending on the number of cold accumulators you put inside. It complies with the ISTA-3A standard for shock and vibration resistance, which also makes it highly protective.

Please note: these insulated containers are not suitable for direct food contact. So if you need to deliver your food products in them, be sure to wrap them in plastic film or an isothermal bag beforehand, or vacuum-pack them for better preservation.

The isothermal bag with adhesive closure prevents thermal shock and is approved for food contact. Its polyethylene foam padding makes it highly resistant, while its shiny exterior adds value. It is also available with a zip fastening.

Cold accumulators: for use with insulated containers

Cold accumulators are needed to give your isothermal packaging a cooling effect. They can be inserted into your containers to keep products at the right temperature.

	Rigid cold accumulators keep products at positive (0/+4°C and 2/+8°C) or negative (-20°C) temperatures. Reusable and recyclable, they are also eco-responsible.
	Flexible cold accumulators keep products at a positive temperature (0/+4°C and 2/+8°C). They are also reusable, and very practical for keeping your parcels light.
	The flexible cold accumulator in a kraft cover bag can be easily adapted to your different isothermal packaging. It keeps products at a positive temperature (+2/+8°C). It is visibly eco-responsible thanks to its kraft cover, and is both reusable and recyclable.

Isothermal packaging: to finish off your isothermal parcels

Pharmaceutical and food products need to be well secured in parcels to prevent damage. To avoid shocks, absorb vibrations and secure goods in parcels, use isothermal padding, which also limits the loss of freshness in the packaging.

	Recycold™ thermal insulating cushioning paper provides guaranteed protection if used with cold accumulators. Flexible and lightweight, it fits in both a cardboard box and a kraft bag, and can be wrapped around products if required. It is made from 85% recycled paper and is recyclable.
	Isothermal bubble wrap keeps products at the right temperature during transport. It can be used for wrapping around products, or as padding in a crate.

Temperature indicators: essential for maintaining the cold chain

Ensuring the customer experience when transporting cold or refrigerated products also means reassuring your customers that the cold chain is being respected. That’s why it’s a good idea to incorporate a temperature indicator into your isothermal packaging, to show whether sensitive products have undergone a change in temperature during transport.

	The rising temperature indicator allows you to check whether your parcel has been exposed to higher temperatures than desired.
	The COLD indicates whether the parcel has been exposed to freezing temperatures for more than 30 minutes.

Accessories for your fresh or frozen deliveries

Don’t leave home without the following two accessories, to ensure optimum delivery of your frozen, deep-frozen or fresh produce!

	The isothermal delivery bag keeps chilled products at their optimum temperature for 3 hours, and frozen products for 5 hours. Flexible and lightweight, its antimicrobial properties prevent the build-up of bacteria on the surface. It’s easy to carry over the shoulder – and is also available in a rucksack version.
	The Perishable shipping label lets you tell delivery personnel and customers instantly that the parcel contains fresh produce.