Specific disadvantages of dry ice

Temperature-sensitive goods are often transported internationally by air cargo. Traditionally dry ice is used as a refrigerant.

Regardless of the transported item a package containing dry ice is classified as Dangerous Goods(properties of dry ice) and subject to declaration and safety fees. Dry ice is extremely cold causes burns if touched, restricts respiration and triggers unconsciousness at a 7% concentration in the air. One kilogram of dry ice releases approximately 500 liters of CO2. So, consignments containing dry ice are Dangerous Goods and exclusively shipped by cargo aircraft.

Dry ice requires specific storage facilities, either directly in the company or at the dry ice supplier. It takes between 48 and 72 hours (depending on outside temperatures) for the dry ice to sublimate and it then must be replaced (so-called “re-icing”) with costs during longer transit times, at the airports or in the customs area. Another costly method is temporary storage in airport cool room facilities. This process is very susceptible to various types of interference. Especially in intercontinental transit, it incurs a high risk of faults leading to considerable spoilage.


Comparison of dry ice refrigerating versus innovative ColdSAFE systems

Dry ice

ColdSAFE

–
Declaration as Dangerous Goods transport

+
Non-toxic packaging without any special safety regulations (provided the transported item is a non-dangerous product)

–
Special documentation and safety fees

+
See above

–
Shipment by cargo aircraft only

+
Shipment allowed in passenger aircraft

–
Re-icing after 48/78 hours

+
Unbroken cold chain of up to 96 hours

–
Bulky packaging with a high weight of dry ice

+
up to 50% less weight and volume

–
intensive handling care by must trained personnel

+
easy to use & easy to handle, also for untrained personnel

ColdSAFE instead of dry ice

As ColdSAFE packaging eliminates the use of dry ice all products can also be transported by passenger aircraft provided the transported item is a non-hazardous product.

No opening of the transport box for re-icing. The coldSAFE packaging will be properly sealed in the company or laboratory, and only opened again by the consignee on arrival (except for customs inspections).

The ColdSAFE packaging material will be delivered as a vacuum flat-pack. So the ColdSAFE packaging logistics systems result in a 50% volume reduction compared to bulky dry ice containers.

Easy to use & Easy to handle

The handling of ColdSAFE and AmbientSAFE systems is absolutely easy and can be carried out by untrained personnel after brief instruction.