Optimising Phase Change Materials (PCMs) in Temperature Controlled Packaging Applications (Bio-PCM)
Lead Participant:
THE WOOL PACKAGING COMPANY LIMITED
Abstract
This project proposes the optimisation of Phase Change Materials (PCM’s), developed from
renewable bio-based sources, to support the successful design of high-performance,
sustainable insulated cold chain packaging solutions for the global pharmaceutical sector.
The project will lead to the creation of a novel, sustainable and integrated cold chain
packaging solution for the global distribution of time/temperature sensitive pharmaceutical
and healthcare products that does not currently exist within the marketplace.
It is absolutely critical that many medicines and vaccines are maintained within tight
temperature ranges 2° to 8°C, during global transit under extremes of ambient temperature.
Recent important changes to EC Good Distribution Practices (GDP) in 2013 now require
pharmaceutical companies, wholesalers and distributors to prove through real-time validation,
summer and winter, that cold chain delivery systems and packaging employed are capable of
maintaining strict temperature control for the duration of the journey to patient, this being
typically 72 hours, current solutions only manage around 48 hours at best. Without such
proof, bodies such as FDA (USA) and MHRA (UK) will not
issue the necessary licences required for wholesale distribution of pharmaceutical products.
The development of insulated packaging materials and containers with thermal buffering
properties represents a powerful solution to address the problems arising from an
uncontrollable temperature interruption during cold-chain distribution. Human lives can be
saved as a direct result of this PCM project, due to the improved safe and effective delivery of
medicines and vaccines on a global level. Currently 50% of all vaccines (of a $27Bn industry)
are wasted due to temperature excursions during transit. Pharmaceutical companies and
logistics providers will see reductions in product wastage and improvements in the cost
effectiveness of packaging and transport.
renewable bio-based sources, to support the successful design of high-performance,
sustainable insulated cold chain packaging solutions for the global pharmaceutical sector.
The project will lead to the creation of a novel, sustainable and integrated cold chain
packaging solution for the global distribution of time/temperature sensitive pharmaceutical
and healthcare products that does not currently exist within the marketplace.
It is absolutely critical that many medicines and vaccines are maintained within tight
temperature ranges 2° to 8°C, during global transit under extremes of ambient temperature.
Recent important changes to EC Good Distribution Practices (GDP) in 2013 now require
pharmaceutical companies, wholesalers and distributors to prove through real-time validation,
summer and winter, that cold chain delivery systems and packaging employed are capable of
maintaining strict temperature control for the duration of the journey to patient, this being
typically 72 hours, current solutions only manage around 48 hours at best. Without such
proof, bodies such as FDA (USA) and MHRA (UK) will not
issue the necessary licences required for wholesale distribution of pharmaceutical products.
The development of insulated packaging materials and containers with thermal buffering
properties represents a powerful solution to address the problems arising from an
uncontrollable temperature interruption during cold-chain distribution. Human lives can be
saved as a direct result of this PCM project, due to the improved safe and effective delivery of
medicines and vaccines on a global level. Currently 50% of all vaccines (of a $27Bn industry)
are wasted due to temperature excursions during transit. Pharmaceutical companies and
logistics providers will see reductions in product wastage and improvements in the cost
effectiveness of packaging and transport.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
|---|---|---|
Participant |
||
| THE WOOL PACKAGING COMPANY LIMITED |
People |
ORCID iD |