‘Built to Last’ – How Tower’s Reusable Passive Containers Drive Long-term Sustainability
In the pharmaceutical cold chain, maintaining both efficiency and environmental responsibility is crucial. Tower’s reusable passive containers are engineered to reduce waste and costs while optimising performance. With an emphasis on Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and circularity, our containers offer a solution that’s both economical and environmentally conscious.
Unmatched Durability for Extended Use
Structural integrity and temperature regulation are essential considerations. Tower’s solutions utilise rotationally moulded polyethylene for the external wall sections. Once cooled, these sections are filled with structural insulation foam, creating a strong composite with high thermal barrier properties and excellent rigidity. This approach balances simplicity with longevity, providing significant protection against external shocks and impacts for over a decade.
The containers include blow-moulded polyethylene plates with phase-change materials (PCMs) that help maintain a stable internal temperature, shielding the contents from external temperature fluctuations. This design ensures that the products remain uniformly protected with controlled temperatures within the container.
The robustness of this system is critical for consistent temperature control, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry. Unlike single-use alternatives, Tower’s reusable passive containers represent a long-term solution that minimise the need for replacements and reduce waste, contributing to a more sustainable cold chain.
A Key Component of the Circular Economy
Another important factor is the modular design of the container system, which allows for the main structural components to be reconfigured into up to 12 different sizes of shippers, accommodating various aircraft types and ISO pallet combinations. For greater efficiency, it is advantageous if all configurations utilise a single size of PCM plate. Given the diverse transportation methods required for pharmaceuticals, the solution must cater to a broad spectrum of transport systems, including couriers, articulated road vehicles, multimodal containers, and both narrow and wide-bodied aircrafts. In all scenarios, the focus is on maximising volumetric and weight efficiency, making it crucial to compare the tare weight of a container with its payload volume to achieve the optimal balance.
Our reusable range of containers are designed to align with our customers’ desire for improved circularity. By embracing a closed-loop model, these containers are optimised to be returned and reused, thereby minimising waste and conserving resources. This circular strategy aligns with global sustainability efforts, assisting companies in adhering to regulatory standards for environmental responsibility. Reusing containers supports waste reduction objectives and significantly lowers the carbon footprint of pharmaceutical logistics.
Cost-Effectiveness Through Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
While Tower’s reusable passive containers may require a higher initial investment, their TCO is considerably lower than that of disposable, single-use alternatives. By decreasing the frequency of replacements and cutting disposal costs, companies can realise significant savings over time. Additionally, these containers optimise operational efficiency by reducing the need for continual reordering and disposal, resulting in lower operational costs and supporting financial sustainability.
Why Tower?
Single-use shippers can be useful and cost-effective for shorter durations in regions with well-developed supply chain infrastructure. However, reusable containers offer enhanced physical durability and temperature protection, making them ideal for areas where supply chain management and infrastructure are less developed.
Tower’s fully reusable passive containers are also “built to last,” providing the extended durability, efficiency, and reusability necessary to meet the cold chain requirements of the biopharma industry. By integrating crucial criteria with an emphasis on TCO and circularity, we aim to deliver a reliable and sustainable packaging solution that advances both environmental and economic objectives for long-term success.
Compare our solutions here: https://www.towercoldchain.com/compare-solutions/
