Questions & Answers about the Eco Fresh Box

How sustainable are shipments with the Frische Box?

We are talking about ecological cooling boxes & solutions, which are either made exclusively of paper (Hard Box), or >97% of paper (Fresh Bag, wrapping fleece: 8 gr/sqm AIRLAID fleece made of polypropylene) and can accordingly be optimally recycled in the paper cycle - whereby no environmental damage is to be expected even in the case of improper disposal. We use recycled paper to further increase sustainability, and the low weight also makes transport more efficient. For this reason, our insulated packaging is particularly environmentally friendly.

 

What data is needed to find the optimal packaging option (hard box, fresh bag)?

First of all, we need information on how you want to ship your goods and what exactly is to be shipped. For example, if a high degree of flexibility is desired, if refrigerated and non-refrigerated products are to be shipped together, if the shipping time is relatively short (e.g. 24 hours), or if the products are flat, the environmentally friendly fresh bag is the best choice. In most cases, however, an ecological alternative to the Styrofoam/EPS box is sought - and this brings us to our Hard Box. Here it is important for us to know what wall/insulation thickness is currently being used, how long the goods are to be shipped and in what temperature range. Most enquiries are for a max. shipping time of 48h and the fresh range (wall thickness: 20 mm), so we can offer our "standard" Hard Box. If the wall thickness is lower, our fresh bag may be interesting for price reasons. If the wall thickness is, for example, 40 mm (standard for frozen food), our frozen food hard box (= 64x cellulose layers, 40 mm wall thickness) is a good choice. However, it should be noted that there are no generally valid instructions for use, as the products to be cooled have extremely different temperature characteristics due to different densities, humidity, etc. - therefore we usually suggest a cooling test. For this purpose, we will be happy to provide you with a sample as well as cold packs (or dry ice or PCM batteries for frozen goods) so that you can carry out a test shipment with your sender (e.g. DHL or UPS) or a climate chamber test. The test should ideally be carried out in warm weather so that the goods arrive well cooled even on a hot summer day. Of course, a test with cooling loggers offers a better/safer result, but this is not a must.

 

Which variant is suitable for "only" keeping fresh and which for frozen goods (box/bag)?

For fresh produce, both the fresh bag and the hard box are suitable (whereby the cooling capacity of the hard box is even better) - for frozen produce, however, only the hard box designed for this purpose (64x cellulose layers / 40 mm wall).

 

How much buffer is planned for cooling in case of shipping delays?

The solutions are designed for shipping over 48h, whereby a certain buffer is included - however, this depends in particular on the use of cold packs/dry ice and the product to be cooled. The final cooling time can be increased/decreased individually, which is why this question cannot be answered specifically. For your information: In climate tests, we were able to maintain cooling for 72 hours.

 

What is the maximum filling volume so that cooling can be ensured by the Hard Box?

The general rule here is that the more the available volume is used, the better the cooling performance. In order to achieve the maximum cooling capacity, it is therefore advisable to fill any cavities - very good results can be achieved with paper padding material, for example.

 

Fresh bag: Is there a summer/winter version (different number of layers)?

There is only one version with 32x cellulose layers, as our ecological fresh bag is especially designed for short shipping distances.

 

Which and how many cooling packs are necessary and is it also possible to ship without cooling packs?

As a general rule of thumb, approx. 15-20% of the weight of the products should be used in cooling elements (e.g. 1 kg. meat = 1x 200 gr. gel pack) - but this varies depending on the product to be cooled. Furthermore, the cooling performance lasts longer with larger gel packs, as it takes longer to "defrost" down to the core. A refrigerated shipment without cooling elements is only recommended for a short duration, as active cooling (cooling packs) should be used in addition to passive cooling (by the hard box / fresh bag). Cooling elements cause the temperature in the cooler to drop sharply at first and then rise slowly - without cooling elements, the temperature of the products in the cooler will rise constantly and directly. Please note that the gel packs should be placed in the freezer for 3 days before use.

 

What is the max. number of printing colours?

  • Hard Box: We can also customise the outer boxes in smaller quantities according to your wishes, or offer you a printed (paper) tape with your logo.
  • Fresh Bag: Currently, printing is only possible for contract quantities of 20,000 or more. The additional costs are approx. 0,10€ / pc. (depending on the print image), plus cliché costs of approx. € 1,000.00.

 

Where do our environmentally friendly Fresh Box solutions stand in comparison to the "standard" EPS/Styrofoam box in terms of price?

Unfortunately, this question cannot be answered in general, as the small cool boxes are more expensive in comparison and, for example, the 40 lt. hard box can even be cheaper due to the flat delivery. But apart from the pure purchase costs, the minimised logistics costs (transport + warehousing) as well as disposal should definitely be taken into account - since we are talking about a pure paper product, the solution can be optimally disposed of and recycled in waste paper. In general, a standard plastic product should not be compared in price with a 100% ecological alternative, as other factors, such as the image you want to achieve with the end customer, should usually have a strong influence on the decision.

 

How strong is our frozen version compared to Styrofoam and to the other alternatives in the industry?

For the deep-freeze sector we have the TK Hard Box with a wall thickness of 40mm (64 layers), which is in no way inferior to the performance of a Styrofoam box of the same thickness.

 

How can multiple temperature zones be achieved in one insulated box?

The temperature zones are achieved by matching 2-layer WP blanks which are pressed onto the product in the Hard Box and which have a recess for easier removal.

 

How has the Freshness Box proved itself in practice with customers? What is the customer feedback like?

Very positive, so far we have received almost exclusively good feedback. We also always did very well in the last tests, which were carried out in comparison to the other eco-alternatives.

Below are two customer feedbacks:

  1. The delivery worked out great, on time and fitting. The boxes themselves are super and "transported" the delivery excellently.
  2. We have just unpacked the package - perfect! You have a very exciting product here.

 

What is the best way for the end customer to dispose of the packaging?

In the paper waste, so that the solution is recycled in an environmentally conscious way and sustainably returned to the material cycle.