Reusable Cold Chain Packaging
In partnership with Thermo Fisher Scientific, UC San Diego Core Bio Services offers an eco-friendly packaging and shipping solution for cold-storage products in high demand within the campus research community.
UC San Diego Receives More than 6,000 Cold Storage Shipments a Year
Shipping temperature-sensitive products is critical to scientific research but also represents one of our significant environmental impacts. Typically, cold storage items are shipped in single-use expanded polystyrene (EPS) coolers, which are not readily recyclable and usually end up in landfills. In collaboration with Thermo Fisher Scientific, UC San Diego offers a sustainable shipping solution for in-demand cold storage products that are available for purchase via Core Bio Services.
How It Works
- Cold-chain orders are shipped from Thermo Fisher Scientific's Carlsbad warehouse in the temperature-controlled, reusable cold-chain delivery system.
- UC San Diego receives and stores the order in a temperature-controlled refrigerator or freezer at Core Bio and returns the cold-chain system to Thermo Fisher Scientific for reconditioning and reuse.
- UC San Diego's Core Bio team prepares the order and delivers it to end-users in our labs in a validated, reusable cooler bag with reusable gel packs.
- Upon receipt, the lab immediately stores the order in a temperature-controlled refrigerator or freezer.
How to Participate
Core Bio Services has partnered with Thermo Fisher Scientific to have UC San Diego’s top 48 cold storage products shipped using our new, reusable cold chain packaging system.
To order these products sustainably:
- Go to Advanced Search in Oracle and add any of the items to your cart from Core Bio.
- Your item will be delivered (without the unnecessary EPS packaging!) by one of Core Bio’s team members.
- Put the item directly in your freezer to keep it at the correct temperature.
- Know you are making a direct impact on keeping our supply chain more sustainable!
Benefits
- Decrease the amount of EPS and other shipping material waste shipped to campus from Thermo Fisher Scientific's Carlsbad warehouse.
- Reusable shipping containers reduce the supply chain's greenhouse gas emissions footprint.
- Help UC San Diego and Thermo Fisher Scientific meet their respective goals to reduce waste.
Email the project team at ucsdpartnership@thermofisher.com and mention 'Cold-Chain Packaging Program' in the subject line.
Program Status
The partnership teams piloted a returnable and reusable cold-chain shipping system for temperature-sensitive products between -20 ° C and +4 ° C. As a result of the 6-month pilot, ~9,000 lbs. of packaging waste (EPS, paper coolers, and gel packs) has been diverted from landfill.
Join the Core Bio email list and stay tuned for more program updates and progress reports.