Insulated bags

Buy insulated bags — flexible cooling from 24 to 72 hours

An insulated bag is a flexible cooling packaging for the chilled and frozen shipping of temperature-sensitive products. Through multiple insulating layers — reflective metalized PET film and bubble wrap — the bag keeps heat out and cold in. Combined with gel packs, this creates a reliable, affordable solution that you use daily in food, pharma and e-commerce. Below you'll find both lines (4-layer and 6-layer) with direct prices, plus a selection guide based on our own test data.

In practice, you place the products in the insulated bag and then put the bag in a cardboard box. This way you create a complete cool box in one action, without the storage and transport costs of pre-formed EPS boxes.

4-layer or 6-layer: which do you choose?

The difference lies in the number of insulation layers, and therefore in how long the contents stay cold. The figures below come from our own test with a 400 gram gel pack at a constant ambient temperature of 25 °C over 48 hours. Use them as a guideline — actual performance depends on filling, number of gel packs and outside temperature.

4-layer insulated bag (Metalized PET + bubble wrap)

The efficient standard solution, built up from reflective metalized PET film and 8 mm bubble wrap. Keeps the contents below 0 °C for about 15 hours and on average below 8 °C for up to 36 hours. In terms of insulation, comparable to a thin-walled EPS box. Ideal for same-day deliveries and shipments up to about 48 hours, and the most affordable choice — widely used in spring, autumn and winter when the outside temperature is less extreme.

6-layer insulated bag (maximum insulation)

Extra insulation layers for the heavier cold chain. Keeps the contents below 0 °C for over 26 hours and below 8 °C for up to 48 hours. In terms of insulation, comparable to a thick-walled EPS box, but more flexible in use and more compact in storage. The choice for warm summer days, longer transit times and strictly controlled shipments such as pharma and international air freight.

Premium: alu/alu insulated bag up to 72 hours

For the longest bridging, we have an insulated bag with a double aluminium layer and ALU-FORMA core (72 × 63 cm). The reflective aluminium reflects heat back and, combined with cooling elements, keeps products at temperature for up to 72 hours — suitable for long distances and strongly varying outside temperatures.

How do you use an insulated bag?

The bag works best as an insulating inner layer in a cardboard box, always combined with gel packs. A few rules of thumb:

• Place the products in the insulated bag and then the bag in a suitable cardboard box.
• Place the gel packs on top of the products — cold air sinks and cools evenly that way.
• Fill the bag as tightly as possible: the less empty space (and the fuller with chilled or frozen products), the better the cooling performance.
• Seal the bag with tape. The number of gel packs depends on shipping time, contents and outside temperature — if in doubt, request advice or a sample.

Insulated bag or EPS box (polystyrene)?

For many chilled shipments, an insulated bag is a smarter alternative than an EPS box. The performance is comparable in practice, but the bag has practical advantages:

• Takes up much less storage space — delivered flat and compact.
• Lighter and smaller in volume, which lowers shipping costs.
• No large, crumbly waste stream as with polystyrene; easy to dispose of after use.
• Also available in a variant with 95% recycled material for those who want to pack more sustainably.

What are insulated bags used for?

• Online meals and meal prep. Fresh ingredients and ready meals stay at temperature, even if the recipient doesn't accept the parcel immediately.
• Meat and fish. Keeps the cold chain intact from sender to recipient — widely used by butchers and fishmongers with a webshop.
• Dairy and produce. Dairy, vegetables and fruit travel safely chilled, optionally with an absorbent pad against moisture.
• Pharma and air freight. With the 6-layer variant for validated, strictly controlled cold-chain shipments.

Complete your cool box

Combine your insulated bag with a standard cardboard box as outer packaging and with ice packs and gel packs for the cooling. Not sure about the right size, the number of layers or the number of gel packs? Request a sample or advice without obligation — our specialists are happy to help.