Hydropac, one of the UK’s leading temperature-controlled packaging manufacturers, has uncovered that gel ice packs produce 39% more CO₂e than water-based alternatives. That’s a significant blind spot for supply chains already under intense ESG scrutiny.
New findings from Hydropac, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of temperature-controlled packaging, show that gel ice packs - widely used in cold chain distribution - generate 39% more CO₂e than water-based alternatives - posing a silent but significant sustainability risk for supply chains.
The production of a 500g pallet of gel ice packs generates an additional 16kg of CO₂e - 39% more CO₂e than water-based alternatives.
With ESG targets now integrated into compliance frameworks and investor expectations, this cold chain carbon blind spot could create reputational and regulatory challenges for brands.
A newly launched Carbon Calculator tool from Hydropac aims to give businesses a clear breakdown of emissions from their ice pack usage, whether measured per unit, per pallet, or annual volume.
The tool will help the industry quantify and reduce this hidden footprint, offering data that enables companies to make evidence-based packaging choices that support their ESG goals.
“Supply chains face some of the toughest sustainability scrutiny,” said Colin Rowland, Managing Director at Hydropac. “By revealing the hidden carbon impact of gel packs, we’re giving companies the transparency they need to align packaging choices with both ESG commitments and safety priorities.”
Aside from their carbon impact, gel packs are often labelled “non-toxic” and “safe for landfill,” but these terms can mask a more complex reality. The gels typically contain polymers and preservatives that don’t easily break down in the environment.
Water-based packs, by contrast, offer a far cleaner life cycle. The main ingredient, water, is not only abundant and safe but also has no residual impact when disposed of correctly.
Colin Rowland added: “The Carbon Calculator aims to hold ourselves - and the wider industry - to a higher standard.”
“By giving brands the ability to measure the real-world impact of their choices, we’re enabling more than compliance, we’re promoting conscious change.”
The free to use Carbon Calculator tool allows businesses to estimate the carbon footprint of different ice pack options and identify opportunities for emissions reduction. It is now live: https://info.hydropac.co.uk/switching-sides.
The production of a 500g pallet of gel ice packs generates an additional 16kg of CO₂e - 39% more CO₂e than water-based alternatives.
With ESG targets now integrated into compliance frameworks and investor expectations, this cold chain carbon blind spot could create reputational and regulatory challenges for brands.
A newly launched Carbon Calculator tool from Hydropac aims to give businesses a clear breakdown of emissions from their ice pack usage, whether measured per unit, per pallet, or annual volume.
The tool will help the industry quantify and reduce this hidden footprint, offering data that enables companies to make evidence-based packaging choices that support their ESG goals.
“Supply chains face some of the toughest sustainability scrutiny,” said Colin Rowland, Managing Director at Hydropac. “By revealing the hidden carbon impact of gel packs, we’re giving companies the transparency they need to align packaging choices with both ESG commitments and safety priorities.”
Aside from their carbon impact, gel packs are often labelled “non-toxic” and “safe for landfill,” but these terms can mask a more complex reality. The gels typically contain polymers and preservatives that don’t easily break down in the environment.
Water-based packs, by contrast, offer a far cleaner life cycle. The main ingredient, water, is not only abundant and safe but also has no residual impact when disposed of correctly.
Colin Rowland added: “The Carbon Calculator aims to hold ourselves - and the wider industry - to a higher standard.”
“By giving brands the ability to measure the real-world impact of their choices, we’re enabling more than compliance, we’re promoting conscious change.”
The free to use Carbon Calculator tool allows businesses to estimate the carbon footprint of different ice pack options and identify opportunities for emissions reduction. It is now live: https://info.hydropac.co.uk/switching-sides.
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