Research shows that the average business loses about 5 percent in shipping costs every year to avoidable errors in shipping — but leaders unfamiliar with hazards related to shipping can stand to lose a lot more. In particular, businesses need to understand how their products might be affected by temperature, like extreme heat and cold. Some freight is remarkably sensitive to changes in temperature, so businesses involved in shipping the following types of products might need to take advantage of additional shipping precautions to prevent undue damage to their freight.
Insulin
The most expensive liquid in the world, insulin is responsible for helping those suffering from diabetes metabolize sugars in food, keeping their bodies functioning despite the chronic and dangerous disease. Insulin must be kept within a specific temperature range — between 36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit — which means shippers must take pains to ensure that the liquid stays perfectly cool during shipping. Most insulin packages contain ice packs and a heroic amount of insulation, are shipped in refrigerated containers and are sent overnight to reduce any chances of spoilage.
Other Pharmaceuticals
Insulin is one of the most popular pharmaceuticals, but it is not the only drug that is sensitive to temperature. In fact, many pharmaceuticals are not only temperature-sensitive but also sensitive to light, humidity and impacts. Thus, pharmaceutical shippers must be careful to label their packages to meet the standards required to keep their shipments safe.
Vaccines
The COVID pandemic has renewed humanity’s interest and care in preserving vaccines to ensure that as many people are protected against preventable disease as possible. Different vaccines have different requirements for preservation during shipping and storage, but almost all are shipped in special containers designed to protect them from exposure to extreme temperatures, which can damage the effectiveness of the vaccine. Most vaccines are shipped via air to arrive at destinations quickly and directly.
Blood
Few people imagine containers full of blood and blood products journeying around the world, but blood is often shipped from areas with surplus to areas that are in need. Different components of blood require different treatment during shipping: Red blood cells and platelets must be kept at room temperature, but whole blood and plasma must be refrigerated. Some blood products must be kept in special containers that allow circulation, even while cold.
Organs and Tissues
Fortunately, few companies need to concern themselves with the delicate process required to ship organs and tissues. When organs and tissues are intended for transplantation, they must be packaged to keep them cool and dry — but not so cold that they freeze and not so dry that they dehydrate. Thus, many hospitals will use a variety of temperature indicators to help them determine whether the organs and tissues remain viable for transplantation after transport.
Wine
Wine connoisseurs can tell the difference between a vintage that has been kept at the perfect cellar temperature and a bottle that has experienced time in the heat and sun. Quality wine changes properties when exposed to temperatures outside the ideal range; warm environments cause wine to age prematurely, lowering its value. Wine can take several days to ship from the world’s best vineyard regions, and shipments should be well-protected against high temperatures with proper refrigeration.
Ice Cream
Perhaps surprising to ice cream fans everywhere, ice cream is an exceedingly fragile project. Obviously, ice cream must be kept constantly below freezing; even a degree too warm, ice cream will melt, which will change its flavor and texture, overflow from its packaging and potentially introduce harmful bacteria. Thus, containers shipping ice cream must be reliable, or else the entire shipment will become worthless.
Fresh Fruit
Fresh fruits, and thin-skinned fruits in particular, require careful packaging to reach consumers without developing bruises or rot that make them unappealing and inedible. In addition to a temperature-controlled container that keeps the fruit cool, fruit often needs to be properly packaged to insulate, eliminate moisture and cushion against rough handling during transport.
Meats
Like human organs, tissues and blood products, animal meats will cultivate diverse and dangerous bacteria when held in the wrong conditions. Most carriers understand that meat products that are exposed to ambient temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for more than two hours belong in the trash, as they could harbor deadly pathogens. In addition to a refrigerated shipping container, meats should be shipped in special insulated packages that maintain low temperatures from the beginning of the journey to the end.