How to select pharmaceutical cold chain companies in 2025 for safe biologics delivery

The rise of biologics, gene therapies and timesensitive medicines means that pharmaceutical coldchain companies are more important than ever. Pharmaceutical cold chain companies handle temperaturecontrolled storage, packaging and transport to ensure vaccines, biologics and gene therapies remain safe from manufacture to patient delivery. The global pharmaceutical coldchain logistics market was about US$18.61 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach US$27.11 billion by 2033 at a compound annual growth rate of 4.3%. Choosing the right partner can seem daunting, but this guide helps you evaluate providers, understand innovations and identify trends shaping the industry in 2025.

Identify key services offered by pharmaceutical coldchain companies, from endtoend logistics to specialized packaging, using longtail keywords such as pharma cold chain logistics companies.

Compare leading logistics providers and packaging innovators in 2025, including UPS Healthcare, DHL, FedEx, and Cold Chain Technologies.

Understand cuttingedge technology and equipment, such as reusable pallet shippers, cryogenic dewars and fiberbased packaging.

Learn how IoT and AI improve coldchain monitoring and reduce product loss, using relevant longtail keywords like cold chain monitoring technology.

Explore sustainability and regulatory trends, with insights on reducing carbon footprints and meeting Good Distribution Practice (GDP) standards.

Find practical tips and a checklist to select the best partner and optimize your coldchain operations.

What services do pharmaceutical coldchain companies provide?

Pharmaceutical coldchain companies ensure medicines stay within strict temperature ranges. They provide integrated solutions that include warehousing, insulated packaging, transportation, monitoring and regulatory compliance. The core services include:

Temperaturecontrolled storage: Warehouses, refrigerated rooms and cryogenic freezers maintain product integrity for drugs requiring +2 °C to +8 °C, –20 °C or cryogenic conditions (–150 °C).

Insulated packaging: Singleuse and reusable shippers with phasechange materials protect shipments and allow lastmile delivery even at –70 °C.

Realtime monitoring: IoT sensors and RFID tags continuously track temperature, humidity and location, providing early alerts to prevent spoilage.

Logistics coordination: Route planning, customs clearance and documentation to ensure timely delivery and minimize delays.

Regulatory compliance: Adherence to GDP standards and regional regulations reduces legal risk and guarantees quality.

These services work together like runners in a relay race; each handoff must keep the payload within the required temperature range. Without such coordination, sensitive biologics could lose potency and jeopardize patient safety.

How are biologics changing coldchain demand?

Biologics account for roughly 30% of all drugs and often require narrow temperature ranges. The COVID19 pandemic highlighted the need for ultracold storage, accelerating investment in infrastructure. About 20% of new drugs in development are gene and cellbased therapies requiring close temperature control. As a result, pharmaceutical coldchain companies must offer cryogenic storage, specialized packaging and faster transit times.

Which pharmaceutical coldchain companies lead the industry in 2025?

Thirdparty logistics providers and integrators

Companies like UPS Healthcare, DHL Life Sciences & Healthcare and FedEx dominate the logistics segment by investing heavily in fleet capacity, acquisitions and digital platforms. Their global networks provide endtoend transportation and warehousing, including lastmile delivery.

Packaging and equipment specialists

Packaging innovators design containers that maintain stable temperatures, reduce waste and support reusability. Key players include:

Cold Chain Technologies (CCT) – In April 2025, CCT launched the CCT Tower Elite, a reusable universal pallet shipper unveiled at LogiPharma 2025. The 1600liter design accommodates both Euro and US pallets and is the lightest solution of its kind. It maintains four temperature ranges (<–60 °C, –20 °C, +5 °C, +20 °C) for over 120 hours without external power, uses phasechange materials or dry ice and includes an integrated IoT system for realtime monitoring.

C Safe Global – Known for active heating and cooling containers, C Safe offers multiuse dewars for cell and gene therapies. The dewars use liquid nitrogen dry vapor technology to maintain –150 °C or colder and integrate TracSafe RLT realtime tracking devices.

Pelican BioThermal – Provides reusable Crēdo™ Cube containers and singleuse CoolPall™ boxes; integrated data loggers track temperature. Its flexible Crēdo™ Go solution adapts to different program needs.

Envirotainer – Offers active air cargo containers with compressordriven cooling and battery power to maintain stable temperatures; considered essential for transporting gene therapies at –70 °C.

DS Smith – Introduced TailorTemp®, a fiberbased, temperaturecontrolled packaging solution showcased at PharmaPack Europe 2025. Made entirely from corrugated cardboard, TailorTemp is 100% recyclable, can be shipped flat to reduce transport costs, and maintains cool temperatures for 36 hours. DS Smith plans to extend cooling to 96 hours as materials improve.

Summit Appliance, Philipp Kirsch and Binder – Manufacture medical refrigerators, ultralow temperature freezers and climate chambers operating from –40 °C to –90 °C with password protection and alarms.

Azenta & Thermo Fisher Scientific – Provide automated storage and cryogenic transport solutions; Thermo Fisher’s subsidiary CSafe introduced multiuse dewars with realtime tracking to transport cell and gene therapies at –150 °C.

Technology and monitoring providers

The coldchain ecosystem also includes providers of digital platforms and sensors. Sensitech launched TempTale GEO X in February 2024, an IoT temperature monitoring solution tailored for life sciences logistics. TransVoyant and CargoSense use AI to predict disruptions and create digital twins. Tag N Trac offers Bluetooth and cellular trackers for realtime visibility. These technologies increase transparency and help companies meet stringent GDP requirements.

How leading companies differentiate

The table below summarizes how top providers stand out and how their differentiators translate into practical benefits.

How do innovations like IoT and AI transform coldchain operations?

Realtime monitoring is the backbone of modern coldchain logistics. IoT sensors embedded in packaging and vehicles monitor temperature, humidity and location continuously. When linked to cloud platforms, they trigger alerts for deviations, enabling rapid intervention. For example, Sensitech’s TempTale GEO X provides realtime analytics across modes and enhances supplychain efficiency.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive analytics help logistics providers anticipate delays and optimize routes. By creating digital twins of shipments and supply chains, AI models can simulate various scenarios and suggest proactive measures. TransVoyant and CargoSense use AI to predict shipment issues before they occur. UPS and FedEx integrate AI into network planning to reduce dwell times and manage capacity.

Robotics and automation in warehouses improve throughput and consistency. Studies suggest that many warehouses remain unautomated, presenting growth potential. Automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) and robotic handling reduce labor costs, minimize errors and improve temperature control. For example, Lineage Logistics integrates warehouse robotics and smart software to maintain energy efficiency.

Blockchain and traceability solutions ensure data integrity. FedEx uses blockchain for tamperproof temperature logs, enabling regulators and customers to verify compliance. Blockchain can also streamline customs clearance and reduce paperwork.

What packaging and equipment solutions are available?

Reusable pallet shippers and parcel containers

Reusable pallet shippers like CCT Tower Elite and CSafe’s MultiUse Dewars offer extended holding times and integrated monitoring. CCT Tower Elite uses phasechange materials or dry ice to maintain temperatures across four ranges and includes an IoT system for near realtime tracking. CSafe’s dewars maintain –150 °C using liquid nitrogen and feature realtime tracking via TracSafe RLT devices.

Fibrebased and recyclable packaging

Sustainability is a key driver. DS Smith’s TailorTemp packaging is made entirely from corrugated cardboard, is 100% recyclable and can be shipped flat, reducing transportation costs. The design currently maintains cool temperatures for 36 hours, with plans to extend to 96 hours. Ranpak’s RecyCold climaliner and 2nd Level Global Solutions’ Solaris paperbased thermal pallet covers provide recyclable alternatives, demonstrating industrywide progress.

Ultralow temperature freezers and cryogenic systems

Summit Appliance, Philipp Kirsch and Binder manufacture refrigerators and freezers that operate from –40 °C to –90 °C and include password protection and alarm systems. Azenta and Thermo Fisher offer automated storage solutions and cryogenic dewars, ensuring safe transport of cell and gene therapies at –150 °C.

How can you select the right pharmaceutical coldchain partner?

Choosing a partner requires assessing service scope, technology, network reach, sustainability practices and regulatory compliance. Use the following checklist to guide your evaluation:

Assess network coverage: Confirm that providers have facilities near your manufacturing sites and customer locations to reduce transit time.

Verify temperature ranges: Ensure the company can handle the specific temperature range your product requires (e.g., +2 °C to +8 °C, –20 °C, cryogenic).

Evaluate monitoring technology: Look for providers using IoT sensors, realtime dashboards and predictive analytics. Companies like Sensitech, TransVoyant and CargoSense offer solutions that reduce spoilage.

Check sustainability commitments: Ask about reusable packaging, renewable energy, and carbon reduction targets. DS Smith’s TailorTemp and CCT’s Tower Elite illustrate sustainable innovation.

Review certifications and compliance: Confirm adherence to GDP, ISO standards and local regulations. Verify that employees receive regular training and that facilities undergo periodic audits.

Compare cost structures: Evaluate pricing models, including rental options for reusable containers. Consider total cost of ownership, including return logistics for reusable packaging.

Ask for performance metrics: Request data on ontime deliveries, temperature excursions, and spoilage rates. High ontime performance and low excursion rates indicate reliability.

Practical tips and recommendations

For clinical trials: Choose a partner experienced in managing investigational medicinal products. Whiteglove couriers like CRYOPDP (now part of DHL) specialize in clinical trial logistics.

For cell and gene therapies: Require ultracold conditions; look for providers offering cryogenic dewars (C Safe, Thermo Fisher) and active containers (Envirotainer).

For vaccines and biologics: Use providers with robust lastmile networks and sustainable packaging, such as UPS Healthcare, DHL and CEVA Logistics. Consider fiberbased packaging like DS Smith’s TailorTemp.

For small businesses: Consider partnering with thirdparty logistics providers that offer scalable solutions and access to cuttingedge technology without large capital investment.

Case Study: In early 2025, UPS Healthcare finalized its acquisition of German coldchain specialists FrigoTrans and BPL, enhancing its European network. The acquisition provided cryogenic transport capabilities ranging from –196 °C to +25 °C and integrated PanEuropean coldchain transportation. This expansion means pharmaceutical clients in Europe can ship gene therapies and biologics without switching providers midjourney, ensuring product integrity and reducing risk.

What are the latest trends and developments in 2025?

Sustainability and circular packaging

The coldchain industry contributes around 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, prompting regulators and customers to demand more sustainable practices. Innovations include:

Fibrebased packaging: DS Smith’s TailorTemp demonstrates how recyclable materials can replace expanded polystyrene, providing 36hour thermal stability and plans for 96 hours.

Reusable packaging adoption: CEVA Logistics notes that utilization rates of reusable temperaturecontrolled packaging could rise from 30% to 70%, driven by rental models and collaboration.

Renewable energy and alternative fuels: DHL is focusing on sustainable packaging and alternative fuels across its network. UPS invests in energyefficient vehicles and warehouses.

Carbon accounting tools: Many providers now offer dashboards that calculate carbon emissions per shipment, helping clients meet ESG targets.

Technology and digital transformation

Realtime monitoring and predictive analytics continue to grow. TempTale GEO X and AIdriven platforms like TransVoyant reduce spoilage and improve planning.

Automation and robotics are being deployed in cold warehouses. While around 80% of warehouses remain unautomated, innovations such as automated storage and retrieval systems and robotic palletizers are gaining traction.

Blockchain for traceability ensures tamperproof records and supports regulatory compliance.

Market growth and M&A

The pharmaceutical coldchain market is set to grow from US$18.61 billion in 2024 to US$27.11 billion by 2033. Demand is fueled by the increasing share of biologics and gene therapies, requiring specialized logistics.

Mergers and acquisitions continue: UPS acquired FrigoTrans and BPL and agreed to buy Andlauer Healthcare Group, while DHL acquired CRYOPDP. These deals expand networks and deepen capabilities.

Regulatory tightening and quality standards

Regulatory bodies tighten enforcement of Good Distribution Practice (GDP). Companies must demonstrate validated processes, documentation and training. Realtime monitoring and digital quality management systems are increasingly necessary to meet auditors’ expectations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What makes pharmaceutical coldchain companies different from standard logistics providers?

Coldchain companies specialize in maintaining narrow temperature ranges, using insulated packaging, refrigerated vehicles, IoT monitoring and compliance protocols. Standard logistics often lack these specialized systems.

Q2: How do reusable pallet shippers reduce costs?

Reusable pallet shippers like CCT Tower Elite or CSafe dewars can be rented. Although initial rental costs may be higher than singleuse packaging, reusability reduces waste and total cost of ownership.

Q3: Are fiberbased coldchain packages as reliable as EPS?

DS Smith’s TailorTemp packaging has proven to maintain temperatures for 36 hours and is made from 100% recyclable corrugated cardboard. The company aims to extend this to 96 hours, showing strong reliability and sustainability.

Q4: Which providers offer cryogenic transport for gene therapies?

Envirotainer supplies active air cargo containers with compressordriven cooling and battery power, enabling –70 °C transport. CSafe’s MultiUse Dewars maintain –150 °C using liquid nitrogen.

Q5: What should I look for when evaluating monitoring technology?

Ensure sensors provide continuous temperature and location data, integrate with dashboards, and support predictive analytics. Realtime alerts and compliance reporting are key features.

Q6: How will automation impact coldchain logistics?

Automation will improve accuracy, reduce labor costs and enhance energy efficiency. With 80% of warehouses still not automated, the adoption of robotics and automated storage systems is expected to accelerate by 2028.

Q7: How can I reduce the environmental impact of my coldchain operations?

Use reusable packaging, choose providers that invest in renewable energy and electric vehicles, and consider fiberbased solutions. Calculate and track carbon emissions per shipment to make datadriven decisions.

Summary and Recommendations

The pharmaceutical coldchain industry is evolving rapidly. Key trends for 2025 include sustainability, realtime monitoring, reusable packaging, and consolidation through acquisitions. Leading logistics providers like UPS Healthcare, DHL Life Sciences & Healthcare, FedEx, CEVA and Kuehne+Nagel are expanding their networks and investing in technology to meet the growing demand for biologics and cellgene therapies. Packaging innovators such as Cold Chain Technologies, C Safe Global and DS Smith offer reusable and recyclable solutions that extend temperature stability and reduce waste. To choose the right partner, assess network reach, technology, sustainability practices and compliance. Use reusable packaging, leverage IoT monitoring and adopt AI to optimize operations. Remember that sustainable practices not only reduce emissions but also lower costs and enhance brand reputation.

Actionable next steps

Audit your current coldchain process: Identify gaps in storage, packaging, transit and monitoring. Evaluate temperature excursion rates and spoilage incidents.

Define your temperature requirements: Match your product’s stability profile to providers’ capabilities (+2 °C to +8 °C, –20 °C or cryogenic).

Shortlist providers: Compare logistics integrators and packaging specialists based on network coverage, service scope, sustainability commitments and technology offerings.

Request proposals and pilot runs: Ask shortlisted companies for performance metrics, and conduct pilot shipments to validate temperature stability and service quality.

Negotiate contracts with flexibility: Choose rental options for reusable packaging and ensure servicelevel agreements include penalties for temperature excursions.

Implement continuous improvement: Collect data from IoT sensors, analyze trends and work with partners to address bottlenecks. Review performance quarterly and adjust strategies.

About Tempk

At Tempk, we develop innovative coldchain packaging solutions for pharmaceuticals, food and other temperaturesensitive products. Our products range from reusable insulated boxes and bags to gel ice packs, phasechange materials and electric cooler bags. We invest in R&D to create ecofriendly, recyclable materials and offer customized packaging tailored to your payload and temperature requirements. We guarantee product safety through strict quality control, validated thermal performance and compliance with GDP standards. With a focus on sustainability and customer satisfaction, we help you simplify your coldchain operations and protect your valuable cargo.

Call to action

Ready to secure your biologics with reliable coldchain packaging? Contact Tempk today to discuss your specific needs and discover how our reusable solutions can reduce costs and environmental impact. Our experts will help you design a tailored packaging strategy that ensures product integrity from factory to patient.