Reusable Cold Storage

The market for shipping temperature-sensitive products – from food to pharmaceuticals – is expected to exceed $580 billion by 2030. Much of those products are currently being transported in single-use cardboard, Styrofoam and cold pack containers that end up in landfills – to the tune of an estimated 7 million pounds each year.

Now, the same company that has become known for making mugs to keep beverages hot has engineered a system to do the reverse. Called Cube, the box (which looks like a safe) uses many of the same sensors and algorithms to keep things cool. However, the vacuum-insulated container is surrounded by a phase change gel that starts out frozen and turns to liquid as it absorbs heat.

Before use, Cube is plugged into a system that freezes the gel with water and ethanol. When it’s ready to be shipped, it will maintain a temperature of 41 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 72 hours. Sensors and a built-in GPS enable each box to be monitored so that if a shipment is delayed or the contents start to warm up, it can be pulled from a plane or truck and plugged back in to extend the shipping time. And it’s durable enough to provide up to ten years of use.