7 tips for chilled shipping during hot summers
Short answer: in July and August, increase the amount of coolants by 50–100%, ship at the beginning of the week, seal all seams airtight and consider PCM packs or heavier insulation. At an outside temperature of 30 °C, the cooling duration of the same packaging can quickly be a third shorter than at 20 °C.
What was a safe shipment in March can be completely different in July. Here are seven practical tips to keep your chilled shipments reliable in summer too.
1. Double your coolants
A rule of thumb: add 50-100% more ice packs in July and August than in colder months. A shipment that needed only two gel packs in April will probably need three or four in July.
2. Ship at the beginning of the week
Thursday shipments that remain at distribution centers over the weekend pose an extra risk in summer. Schedule critical shipments on Monday or Tuesday.
3. Use airtight packaging
An open EPS box leaks heat through the seams. Seal all seams properly with packaging tape, and if necessary wrap a layer of reflective insulation film around the box for summer shipments.
4. Avoid direct solar heat
Advise your drivers and distributors not to leave boxes in the sun. During transshipment on a site without a canopy, the outside temperature of a box can quickly rise to 50 °C+.
5. Consider PCM instead of standard gel packs
Standard gel packs melt at 0 °C and then release heat at that temperature. For products that must strictly remain above 2 °C, PCM elements (melting at e.g. 5 °C) can be a safer choice — they do not freeze your product, but they do keep it cool.
6. Temporarily upgrade to heavier insulation
For the three hottest months, it may pay to switch to heavier cool boxes — for example from standard EPS to thermal boxes. The additional cost per shipment is typically €0.50-1.00, and you prevent many complaints and returns.
7. Ship the right way
Ask your carrier about refrigerated transport if available. PostNL, DHL and other couriers have options for temperature-controlled transport — often at an additional cost, but worthwhile for critical shipments.
Need help?
Not sure whether your summer packaging is suitable? Call our advisors on +31 (0) 255 234 200 — we’ll be happy to review it with you.
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