Traditional expanded polystyrene (EPS) is a crucial part of cold chain transport in Australia. Now, as the summer months continue to rapidly approach, Merck is transitioning away from the non-recyclable material to insulate its cold chain shipments.
EPS is utilised in pharmaceutical and Life Science cold chain solutions due to its ability to maintain product temperature without compromising on safety or security of often fragile goods.
The move to wool-pack insulation for its life science business is expected to replace 3.6 tonnes of EPS per year and has been validated for one-day shipments of pharmaceutical products under Australian summer conditions.
A widespread phase-out of polystyrene packaging was announced by the Australian federal government in 2021 but failed. Now, the current government is pushing ahead with plans to more tightly regulate packaging standards by 2025 to limit the use of non-recyclable EPS.
Previously, there have been few alternatives to EPS for life science and pharmaceutical transport sector, but the shift to wool and fibreboard-based insulation has the potential to eliminate EPS from cold shipments requiring temperature regulation between two and eight degrees Celsius.
“By moving to wool- and fibreboard-based insulation for cold-chain shipments, we offer our customers sustainable packaging solutions without sacrificing our customary one-day transit time,” Managing Director and Merck Life Science Rebecca Lee says.
“This transition reflects Merck’s dedication to reducing our environmental footprint and promoting a more sustainable value chain.”
Merck was initially founded in 1668 and has become one of the world’s leading science and technology companies in its almost 400-year journey.
It employs roughly 63,000 people and generated over AU$20 billion in sales last year and, according to its website, maintains a strong presence in 66 countries across the globe.
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