Does a Dry Ice Bag Work Better Than Gel Packs for Cold Chain Shipping?

En ce qui concerne l'expédition de produits sensibles à la température, selecting the correct refrigerant is crucial for maintaining product quality and complying with 2025 shipping regulations. Does a dry ice bag work better than gel packs? The answer depends on your shipment’s specific temperature requirements, durée, and regulatory compliance needs. Dans cet article, we’ll guide you through the best practices for choosing between dry ice bags and gel packs, ensuring your shipments stay cold or frozen as required while meeting all regulatory standards.

• Choose the right cold source based on temperature requirements and transit time (Par exemple, “dry ice for 48-hour frozen shipping”).

• Navigate the latest 2025 air transport regulations (Voici pi 954, UN1845, venting requirements).

• Estimate cooling capacity with easy-to-understand energy math for dry ice versus gel packs.

• Optimize packouts to reduce touchpoints and chargeable weight, ensuring cost-effective shipping.

Does a Dry Ice Bag Work Better Than Gel Packs for Keeping Items Frozen?

For shipments requiring temperatures of -20°C or lower, a dry ice bag is generally the best option. Glace sèche, at -78.5°C, sublimates and absorbs a large amount of heat, ensuring that frozen goods stay solid over extended periods. This is crucial for shipping items like ice cream, viande surgelée, or certain medical specimens. D'autre part, packs de gel, which maintain a temperature near 0°C, are ideal for short-term refrigeration (2-8°C) but fail to maintain deep-freezing temperatures for long durations. Donc, dry ice bags are superior for long-distance frozen shipments, especially when maintaining ultra-cold temperatures for up to 48 hours or longer.

Why Dry Ice Bags Excel in Frozen Shipments

Dry ice provides significant cooling capacity due to its low temperature and sublimation process. A kilogram of dry ice can absorb significantly more heat than a gel pack of the same weight, offering better performance, especially in extreme conditions. Dry ice is particularly effective in hot or extended transit routes where maintaining a frozen state is crucial.

Example Case: A seafood supplier used dry ice bags in place of gel packs for 48-hour summer shipments. Par conséquent, frozen core temperatures remained stable, complaints about thawing reduced, and delivery times improved.

Dry Ice Bags vs Gel Packs: Différences clés

1. Plage de température: Dry ice keeps products frozen, while gel packs maintain refrigeration but do not keep items frozen.

2. Durée de refroidissement: La glace sèche dure plus longtemps, jusqu'à 3 days or more depending on insulation, while gel packs typically last 24 heures.

3. Safety and Handling: Dry ice is classified as a hazardous material due to CO₂ release and extreme cold. Gel packs are non-hazardous and simpler to handle.

When to Choose Gel Packs Over Dry Ice Bags?

Gel packs are an excellent option for shipments requiring temperatures between 2°C and 8°C (réfrigéré), such as biologics, chocolat, or certain pharmaceutical products. They are also ideal for short-duration shipments, especially those that need to stay chilled overnight or for a couple of days. Gel packs are cost-effective, réutilisable, and have fewer regulatory hurdles compared to dry ice.

Why Gel Packs Are Often the Better Choice

• Simplicité: Gel packs are easy to use, with no need for special ventilation or hazardous material handling.

• Rentabilité: They are cheaper for short-term or regular shipments.

• Réutilisabilité: Gel packs can be reused multiple times, making them a sustainable choice for businesses that regularly ship temperature-sensitive goods.

Key Advantages of Gel Packs:

• No special labeling or handling required.

• Lower upfront and operational costs for regular use.

• Ideal for items that should not freeze, like vaccines and fresh produce.

How to Choose Between Dry Ice Bags and Gel Packs for Your Shipments

Making the right choice involves considering your shipment’s temperature requirements, durée, and compliance needs. Here’s how you can quickly decide:

1. For Long, Deep-Freezing Shipments (≤ -20°C):

   • Sacs à glace sec are the better choice.

   • Ideal for shipments lasting 24-48 heures ou plus.

   • Comply with IATA’s regulations (Et 1845, PI 954).

2. For Short, Refrigerated Shipments (2-8°C):

   • Packs de gel are perfect.

   • Suitable for 1-2 day shipments, such as meal kits or pharmaceuticals.

   • Easier to handle, no special regulations, and cost-effective.

Compliance Considerations for 2025

Dans 2025, air transport regulations are stricter, especially when shipping hazardous materials like dry ice. Dry ice shipments must comply with IATA’s PI 954 lignes directrices, including proper labeling and venting. For gel packs, there are fewer regulations to follow, making them simpler for international and domestic shipments.

Key Regulatory Requirements for Dry Ice Shipments (2025):

• Vented packaging is mandatory to allow CO₂ to escape.

• Labels must include “Dry Ice,” “Carbon dioxide, solide,” and the net weight.

• A Class 9 hazard label must be applied.

Packs de gel are non-hazardous and do not require such extensive labeling or special handling.

Cost and Sustainability Considerations

While dry ice provides superior cooling performance, it comes with higher costs. Dry ice is single-use and must be purchased for each shipment, which can add up over time, especially for businesses with high-volume cold chain needs. En revanche, Les packs de gel sont réutilisables, making them more economical in the long run. Cependant, gel packs contribute to plastic waste if not properly disposed of or recycled.

Sustainability Tip: Opt for recyclable or drain-safe gel packs to reduce environmental impact.

2025 Tendances de l'expédition de la chaîne du froid

Looking ahead to 2025, more businesses are exploring sustainable and efficient cold chain solutions. La demande de Matériaux à changement de phase (PCM) is growing as they offer an eco-friendly alternative to dry ice and gel packs. PCM packs can maintain temperatures similar to dry ice without the same regulatory challenges and environmental concerns. En plus, recyclable packaging et smart packaging solutions are expected to play a larger role in optimizing cold chain logistics.

Directions futures:

• Sustainable PCM solutions: These offer a green alternative, with reusability and precise temperature control.

• Smart tracking and IoT: Real-time temperature monitoring and tracking will be integrated into packaging to provide more reliable cold chain solutions.

Questions fréquemment posées (FAQ)

Q1: Does a dry ice bag work better than gel packs for keeping items frozen?
Oui, especially for shipments lasting more than 24 hours and requiring deep-freezing (≤ -20°C).

Q2: Are gel packs considered hazardous goods?
Non, gel packs are generally non-hazardous and do not require special shipping or handling.

Q3: What are the regulations for dry ice bags?
Dry ice must be packed in vented containers, labeled with “Glace sèche,” “UN 1845,” and the net weight. A Class 9 label is required for air transport.

Conclusion: Making the Right Choice for Your Cold Chain Shipments

Choosing between dry ice bags and gel packs depends on your specific shipping needs. For long-duration, expéditions ultra-froides, dry ice is your best option. For shorter, refrigerated shipments, gel packs offer simplicity, cost-efficiency, and fewer regulatory hurdles.

When selecting your shipping coolant, always consider the target temperature, durée, compliance requirements, and budget to ensure your product arrives in perfect condition, à chaque fois.

Ready to Optimize Your Cold Chain?

Contact Rotation to receive tailored advice for your cold chain shipments. Let us help you design the best solution for your needs, ensuring compliance with the latest 2025 regulations while keeping your products safe and fresh.