Cold chain packaging refers to a specialized packaging system designed to maintain the temperature of sensitive payloads, ensuring they are kept within specific temperature ranges such as cold, warm, frozen, and others.
The primary products within the realm of cold chain packaging include crates, insulated containers and boxes, cold packs, labels, and temperature-controlled pallet shippers. Crates, which can be constructed from wood, plastic, or metal, serve as large boxes used for storing or transporting items requiring temperature control. Various materials are employed in cold packaging, including expanded polystyrene (EPS), vacuum insulated panel (VIP) solutions, and polyurethane (PUR). The applications of cold chain packaging span across various industries, including fruits and vegetables, fruit and pulp concentrates, dairy products, fish, meat and seafood, processed food, pharmaceuticals, and bakery and confectioneries.
Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.
The rapid escalation of U.S. tariffs and rising trade tensions in spring 2025 are having a substantial impact on the machinery sector, driving up the costs of essential components such as steel, hydraulic systems, and precision bearings many of which are sourced from regions affected by the tariffs. Manufacturers of construction, agricultural, and industrial machinery are now facing tighter profit margins, as existing long-term contracts limit their ability to raise prices immediately. This climate of uncertainty has also led to postponed investments in automation and smart machinery, slowing potential productivity improvements. In response, companies are focusing on developing local suppliers, redesigning products to incorporate alternative materials, and adopting predictive maintenance strategies to extend equipment life and reduce the need for costly replacements.
The cold chain packaging market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides cold chain packaging market statistics, including cold chain packaging industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with an cold chain packaging market share, detailed cold chain packaging market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the cold chain packaging industry. This cold chain packaging market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.
The cold chain packaging market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $31.69 billion in 2024 to $35.49 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.0%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of global pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, growth in demand for temperature-sensitive biologics and vaccines, increased focus on food safety and quality assurancesafety, rise in global trade of frozen and chilled foods, growth in the biotechnology and life sciences sector.
The cold chain packaging market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $61.45 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to expansion of e-commerce and online grocery delivery services, adoption of cold chain technologies in emerging markets, increasing importance of last-mile delivery in cold chain, market growth inThe cell and geneTherapy sector, demand for sustainable and eco-friendly packaging solutions. Major trends in the forecast period include innovations in insulation and thermal barrier materials, active and passive temperature-controlled packaging, integration of iot and sensor technologies, single-use and eco-friendly packaging solutions, pharmaceutical packaging with serialization and traceability.
The forecast of 14.7% growth over the next five years reflects a modest reduction of 0.5% from the previous estimate for this market. This reduction is primarily due to the impact of tariffs between the US and other countries. This is likely to directly affect the US through shortages of vacuum-insulated panels and phase-change materials from Germany and South Korea, impacting pharmaceutical and food logistics. The effect will also be felt more widely due to reciprocal tariffs and the negative effect on the global economy and trade due to increased trade tensions and restrictions.
Rapid urbanization is anticipated to drive the growth of the cold chain packaging market during the forecast period. Over the past few years, urbanization has resulted in urban development, as cities and other urban areas require significantly more resources to accommodate the increasing population and their demands. While the growing population is fueling the demand for food products, changing lifestyles are leading consumers to prefer processed and convenient food items. Processed foods such as frozen fruits and vegetables, dairy products, seafood, and meat are in high demand worldwide. These food items necessitate efficient packaging during transit and storage, which is achieved through cold chain packaging. For instance, according to the UN Conference on Trade and Development, a Switzerland-based intergovernmental organization, the total urban population was 4.54 billion as of July 2022, and it is projected to reach 6.605 billion by 2050. Therefore, the rapid growth of urbanization will drive the cold chain packaging market's expansion.
The issue of increasing food waste and spoilage is also anticipated to contribute to the growth of the cold chain packaging market. Food waste and spoilage refer to the loss of food products due to various factors, including deterioration, waste, and spoilage. Cold chain packaging helps mitigate these challenges by preserving the quality and freshness of food products through the maintenance of optimal temperatures during transportation and storage. As of September 2022, approximately 14% of the food produced globally, amounting to $400 billion annually, is lost after harvest but before reaching stores. An additional 17% is lost to waste in the retail and consumer sectors. This totals to an amount of food that could feed 1.26 billion people each year. The focus on reducing food waste and spoilage is therefore driving the adoption of cold chain packaging solutions.
A notable trend in the cold chain packaging market is the increasing emphasis on sustainable packaging practices. Companies are investing in CO2-efficient transport methods, but inefficiencies in cooling methods still contribute to around 20% of losses. To address this, major players in the cold chain packaging industry are investing in reusable, multi-use, materials-based temperature-controlled packaging solutions. Sustainable packaging solutions not only offer long-term cost benefits due to reusability but also align with environmental goals, reducing CO2 emissions. As governments worldwide implement regulations to curb carbon emissions, the adoption of sustainable cold chain packaging solutions becomes increasingly important. In January 2022, Packaging Technology Group (PTG) introduced an extended-duration, curbside recyclable thermal shipper that maintains temperatures between 2-8 °C for 72 hours, showcasing the industry's commitment to sustainable practices.
In March 2022, Cold Chain Technologies LLC, a U.S.-based packaging company, successfully acquired Packaging Technology Group, LLC, marking a strategic move into environmentally sustainable packaging, including cold chain solutions. The financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed. The acquisition is anticipated to enhance Cold Chain Technologies' existing portfolio, enabling the company to offer a more comprehensive range of innovative solutions to its customers worldwide. Packaging Technology Group LLC, founded in 2005, is a U.S.-based company specializing in the design and manufacturing of sustainable packaging specifically tailored for the biopharmaceutical and life sciences industry.
Major companies operating in the cold chain packaging market include Cold Chain Technologies Inc., Cryopak Industries Inc., Sofrigam Company, CCL Industries Inc., Sealed Air Corporation, Pelican BioThermal LLC, Sonoco Thermosafe, Intelsius a DGP Company, Softbox Systems Ltd., Envirotainer AB, Inmark Packaging, Tempack Packaging Solutions S.L., ACH Foam Technologies LLC, American Aerogel Corporation, Cold Ice Inc., Davis Core & Pad Co., DuPont de Nemours Inc., Exeltainer S.L., Insulated Products Corporation, Laminar Medica Limited, NanoCool LLC, Polar Tech Industries Inc., Protek Cargo, Saeplast Americas Inc., SkyCell AG, Snyder Industries Inc., TKT GmbH, World Courier, va-Q-tec AG
Western Europe was the largest region in the cold chain packaging market in 2024. The regions covered in the cold chain packaging market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa2
The countries covered in the cold chain packaging market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK and USA.
The cold chain packaging market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing packaging services such as active, passive and hybrid packaging services. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The cold chain packaging market also includes sales of vacuum insulated panels which are used in providing packaging services. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.
The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).
The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.
Cold Chain Packaging Global Market Report 2025 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.
This report focuses on cold chain packaging market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.
Reasons to Purchase
Gain a truly global perspective with the most comprehensive report available on this market covering 15 geographies.
Assess the impact of key macro factors such as geopolitical conflicts, trade policies and tariffs, post-pandemic supply chain realignment, inflation and interest rate fluctuations, and evolving regulatory landscapes.
Create regional and country strategies on the basis of local data and analysis.
Identify growth segments for investment.
Outperform competitors using forecast data and the drivers and trends shaping the market.
Understand customers based on the latest market shares.
Benchmark performance against key competitors.
Suitable for supporting your internal and external presentations with reliable high quality data and analysis
Report will be updated with the latest data and delivered to you within 2-3 working days of order along with an Excel data sheet for easy data extraction and analysis.
All data from the report will also be delivered in an excel dashboard format.
Where is the largest and fastest growing market for cold chain packaging ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The cold chain packaging market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.
The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.
The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market.
The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, and forecasting its development.
The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include:
The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.
Market segmentations break down the market into sub markets.
The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth.
The competitive landscape chapter gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified.
The trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it emerges from the crisis and suggests how companies can grow as the market recovers.
Scope
Markets Covered:1) By Product: Crates; Insulated Container And Boxes; Cold Packs; Label; Temperature Controlled Pallet Shippers
2) By Material Type: Expanded polystyrene (EPS); Vacuum insulated panel (VIP) solutions; Polyurethane (PUR)
3) By Application: Fruits And Vegetables; Fruit And Pulp Concentrates; Dairy Products; Fish, Meat And Seafood; Processed Food; Pharmaceuticals; Bakery And Confectionaries
Subsegments:
1) By Crates: Plastic Crates; Wooden Crates; Foldable Crates
2) By Insulated Containers and Boxes: Foam Insulated Containers; Rigid Insulated Boxes; Thermal Blankets
3) By Cold Packs: Gel Packs; Ice Packs; Dry Ice Packs
4) By Labels: Temperature-Sensitive Labels; Tracking Labels; Compliance Labels
5) By Temperature Controlled Pallet Shippers: Refrigerated Pallet Shippers; Insulated Pallet Covers; Active Temperature Controlled Pallet Shippers
Companies Mentioned: Cold Chain Technologies Inc.; Cryopak Industries Inc.; Sofrigam Company; CCL Industries Inc.; Sealed Air Corporation; Pelican BioThermal LLC; Sonoco Thermosafe; Intelsius a DGP Company; Softbox Systems Ltd.; Envirotainer AB; Inmark Packaging; Tempack Packaging Solutions S.L.; ACH Foam Technologies LLC; American Aerogel Corporation; Cold Ice Inc.; Davis Core & Pad Co.; DuPont de Nemours Inc.; Exeltainer S.L.; Insulated Products Corporation; Laminar Medica Limited; NanoCool LLC; Polar Tech Industries Inc.; Protek Cargo; Saeplast Americas Inc.; SkyCell AG; Snyder Industries Inc.; TKT GmbH; World Courier; va-Q-tec AG
Regions: Asia-Pacific; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa
Time Series: Five years historic and ten years forecast.
Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita,
Data Segmentations: country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments.
Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.
Delivery Format: PDF, Word and Excel Data Dashboard.
Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary
2. Cold Chain Packaging Market Characteristics
3. Cold Chain Packaging Market Trends And Strategies
4. Cold Chain Packaging Market - Macro Economic Scenario Including The Impact Of Interest Rates, Inflation, Geopolitics, Trade Wars and Tariffs, And Covid And Recovery On The Market
4.1. Supply Chain Impact from Tariff War & Trade Protectionism
5. Global Cold Chain Packaging Growth Analysis And Strategic Analysis Framework
5.1. Global Cold Chain Packaging PESTEL Analysis (Political, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal Factors, Drivers and Restraints)
5.2. Analysis Of End Use Industries
5.3. Global Cold Chain Packaging Market Growth Rate Analysis
5.4. Global Cold Chain Packaging Historic Market Size and Growth, 2019 - 2024, Value ($ Billion)
5.5. Global Cold Chain Packaging Forecast Market Size and Growth, 2024 - 2029, 2034F, Value ($ Billion)
5.6. Global Cold Chain Packaging Total Addressable Market (TAM)
6. Cold Chain Packaging Market Segmentation
6.1. Global Cold Chain Packaging Market, Segmentation By Product, Historic and Forecast, 2019-2024, 2024-2029F, 2034F, $ Billion
Crates
Insulated Container And Boxes
Cold Packs
Lable
Temperature Controlled Pallet Shippers
6.2. Global Cold Chain Packaging Market, Segmentation By Material Type, Historic and Forecast, 2019-2024, 2024-2029F, 2034F, $ Billion
Expanded polystyrene (EPS)
Vacuum insulated panel (VIP) solutions
Polyurethane (PUR)
6.3. Global Cold Chain Packaging Market, Segmentation By Application, Historic and Forecast, 2019-2024, 2024-2029F, 2034F, $ Billion
Fruits And Vegetables
Fruit And Pulp Concentrates
Dairy Products
Fish, Meat And Seafood
Processed Food
Pharmaceuticals
Bakery And Confectionaries
6.4. Global Cold Chain Packaging Market, Sub-Segmentation Of Crates, By Type, Historic and Forecast, 2019-2024, 2024-2029F, 2034F, $ Billion
Plastic Crates
Wooden Crates
Foldable Crates
6.5. Global Cold Chain Packaging Market, Sub-Segmentation Of Insulated Containers and Boxes, By Type, Historic and Forecast, 2019-2024, 2024-2029F, 2034F, $ Billion
Foam Insulated Containers
Rigid Insulated Boxes
Thermal Blankets
6.6. Global Cold Chain Packaging Market, Sub-Segmentation Of Cold Packs, By Type, Historic and Forecast, 2019-2024, 2024-2029F, 2034F, $ Billion
Gel Packs
Ice Packs
Dry Ice Packs
6.7. Global Cold Chain Packaging Market, Sub-Segmentation Of Labels, By Type, Historic and Forecast, 2019-2024, 2024-2029F, 2034F, $ Billion
Temperature-Sensitive Labels
Tracking Labels
Compliance Labels
6.8. Global Cold Chain Packaging Market, Sub-Segmentation Of Temperature Controlled Pallet Shippers, By Type, Historic and Forecast, 2019-2024, 2024-2029F, 2034F, $ Billion
Refrigerated Pallet Shippers
Insulated Pallet Covers
Active Temperature Controlled Pallet Shippers
7. Cold Chain Packaging Market Regional And Country Analysis
7.1. Global Cold Chain Packaging Market, Split By Region, Historic and Forecast, 2019-2024, 2024-2029F, 2034F, $ Billion
7.2. Global Cold Chain Packaging Market, Split By Country, Historic and Forecast, 2019-2024, 2024-2029F, 2034F, $ Billion