Cold Chain Packaging: A Guide to Preserving Food Freshness
Keep your food products fresh with cold chain packaging. Professional solutions for EPS boxes, insulated packaging, cooling gel, and frozen product transportation.
What is Cold Chain Packaging? Why is it Critical?
The cold chain is the process of keeping food products within a certain temperature range from production to consumer. In Istanbul, cold chain packaging is of vital importance for suppliers of meat, dairy products, frozen food, fresh fish, and organic products.
🧊 Cold Chain Packaging Materials
1. EPS (Styrofoam) Boxes
The most commonly used type of cold chain packaging.
| EPS Box Type | Wall Thickness | Cold Retention Time | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard EPS Box | 20-30 mm | 6-12 hours | 8-15 TL |
| Thick-Walled EPS | 40-50 mm | 24-36 hours | 18-30 TL |
| Professional EPS | 60+ mm | 48-72 hours | 35-60 TL |
| Foldable EPS | 25-35 mm | 12-18 hours | 12-22 TL |
2. Cooling Gel Packs (Ice Pack)
Gel packs placed inside EPS boxes that maintain a constant temperature:
- Standard Gel (0°C - 4°C): Ideal for vegetables, fruits, and dairy products
- Deep Freeze Gel (-18°C - -24°C): For frozen meat, fish, and ice cream
- Dry Ice (CO₂): -78°C, for medical products and frozen food
- Reusable Gel Packs: Economical for e-commerce
3. Insulated Bags and Pouches
Used for smaller volumes:
| Insulated Bag Type | Material | Volume | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum-Coated Bag | PE + Aluminum | 5-15 liters | 2-6 TL |
| Foam-Lined Bag | EPE foam | 10-30 liters | 15-40 TL |
| Professional Cargo Bag | Multi-layer insulation | 20-60 liters | 80-200 TL |
❄️ Packaging Based on Temperature Ranges
Fresh Food (+0°C to +4°C)
- 20-30 mm EPS box
- 2-3 standard gel packs
- Leave space for air circulation
- Maximum 12-hour delivery time
Chilled Food (+2°C to +8°C)
- 30-40 mm EPS box
- 4-6 standard gel packs
- Use aluminum foil as inner layer
- 24-hour delivery time
Frozen Food (-18°C to -24°C)
- 50-60 mm EPS box
- 6-8 deep freeze gel packs
- Dry ice support (for long distances)
- 48-72-hour delivery time
🚚 Cold Chain Logistics in Istanbul
The heavy traffic and hot climate of Istanbul make cold chain management challenging. Critical areas:
- Bayrampasa - Bagcilar: Wholesale food markets, meat processing plants
- Pendik - Tuzla: Fish market, cold storage facilities
- Gungoren - Merter: E-commerce warehouses, dairy products
- Avcilar - Kucukcekmece: Frozen food facilities
💰 Calculating Cold Chain Packaging Costs
Sample Scenario: Daily delivery of 50 packages of fresh meat from Istanbul's Anatolian side to the European side
| Cost Item | Quantity/Daily | Unit Price | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30mm EPS Box | 50 | 12 TL | 600 TL |
| Gel Pack (4 per box) | 200 | 3 TL | 600 TL |
| Vacuum Bag | 50 | 1.50 TL | 75 TL |
| Tape and Label | 50 | 0.80 TL | 40 TL |
| DAILY TOTAL | 1,315 TL | ||
| MONTHLY TOTAL (25 working days) | 32,875 TL | ||
🔍 Quality Control and Temperature Monitoring
Temperature Indicators (Thermometer Labels)
- Thermal Label: Changes color when a certain temperature is reached (0.50-2 TL)
- Digital Thermometer: Real-time temperature display (15-40 TL)
- Data Logger: Records temperature throughout the journey (80-300 TL)
Legal Requirements
According to the Turkish Food Codex:
- Cold chain must be uninterrupted
- Temperature records must be kept
- Hygienic packaging materials must be used
- Expiry date must be clearly visible
💡 Saving Tips
1. Reuse Gel Packs
By using reusable gel packs instead of single-use ones, you can achieve 40% savings annually.
2. Bulk Purchases
| Order Quantity | EPS Box Price | Savings |
|---|---|---|
| 1-50 units | 15 TL | - |
