How Seafood Companies Ship Without Styrofoam
For businesses shipping fresh and frozen seafood, selecting the right packaging is crucial to maintaining product quality throughout transit. While many seafood companies ship with Styrofoam coolers, there are some notable downsides:
Environmental Impact: Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene) is non-biodegradable and takes hundreds of years to break down. It’s not recyclable in many areas, leading to significant waste and environmental harm.
Dimensional Weight: Even though they are lightweight, Styrofoam coolers tend to be larger than the required packaging size, incurring additional dimensional weight charges from carriers.
Durability: While Styrofoam provides insulation, it’s easily damaged or crushed, especially if handled roughly during transit. This can compromise its effectiveness in keeping products frozen.
Inefficient Insulation: Although Styrofoam does a decent job at insulating, there are other materials, such as recycled and biodegradable options, that can offer equal or better performance without the environmental drawbacks.
Public Perception: More consumers and businesses are leaning towards sustainable practices. Companies using Styrofoam might face negative perceptions from eco-conscious customers who are concerned about plastic waste and pollution, not to mention that Styrofoam has been banned in several states.
Switching to more eco-friendly materials can offer a better solution for both the environment and your brand’s reputation. However, it's essential that your packaging also aligns with your business’s specific needs. Below, we highlight a few customized solutions our packaging consultants have developed for businesses, balancing both cost-effectiveness and sustainability.
Reducing Damage with Denim Liners
A few years ago, we connected with a business shipping fresh and frozen salmon from Florida. They were using Styrofoam but faced frequent damage claims. After extensive testing, we determined that our one-piece denim liner was the best fit for their needs. Paired with our eco-friendly gel packs, the denim liner successfully supported a 48-hour transit period. This new solution allowed them to leverage FedEx’s one-rate program, reducing transit costs and improving delivery speed. As a result, their business saw significant growth, and they were able to handle the increased volume without any further damage claims. Our solution not only made their operations more sustainable but also helped them serve customers more efficiently. We continue to support their business to this day, with our packaging still playing a key role in their shipping operations.
Increasing Insulation with PolyCool
Another seafood company we work with initially came to us for packaging sizing. After some initial discussions, they opted to work with a competitor, but we continued developing and refining our solutions. We eventually presented two options: CorrCool and PolyCool. They selected PolyCool for its superior moisture barrier and higher density, which helped keep their products dry. Prior to this, they were using bubble foil, which was not only non-recyclable but also underperformed in insulation. After transitioning to PolyCool, they were very satisfied with the results. One of the key benefits of PolyCool is our ability to adjust its density to meet specific performance requirements without altering the size of the box. Even when a product doesn’t meet a customer’s needs, we always have an alternate solution, for example, we initially recommended CorrCool before switching to PolyCool.
Today, they are testing our new CorrCool Silver, which offers a paper-based construction with a moisture barrier and high-performance insulation. Early results have been promising, and we’re excited to keep innovating with new materials to help customers ship seafood both sustainably and safely.
Taking Sustainability Up a Notch with CorrCool Plus
One of our customers, shipping fresh seafood from New York, has been working with us for some time. Initially, we helped them transition from Styrofoam to our PolyCool sustainable liners, which are made from 85% post-consumer content and are curbside recyclable. While they were satisfied with this solution, they wanted to take their sustainability efforts further. We then introduced them to our CorrCool liners, made from 100% post-industrial content, offering even higher performance. Paired with our eco-friendly gel packs and custom-printed boxes, these solutions not only improved their sustainability but also helped extend their brand’s message. All the solutions we provided successfully supported shipping with the 1- and 2-day services required for fresh seafood.
Oysters + Therma Bags = A Seamless Match for Seafood
Many oyster companies have experienced tremendous success using both our PolyCool and CorrCool in combination with Therma Bags. This combination effectively retains moisture and extends insulation time, ensuring that shipments stay safe and fresh.
One particular client in the oyster business required a specific size of PolyCool, which we were able to produce in small quantities. We custom-designed it to hold 100 oysters in a bag, showcasing our flexibility to offer both standard and custom sizes based on customer needs. After extensive testing, they now use this tailored PolyCool solution along with gel packs to ensure the oysters remain in optimal condition during transit.
At the end of the day, our goal is to provide seafood businesses with packaging solutions that not only meet their unique shipping needs but also support their sustainability goals. From insulation to refrigerants, we offer a range of options designed to keep seafood fresh, safe, and environmentally responsible. With our flexibility to provide both standard and custom sizes, along with eco-friendly materials and high-performance insulation, we’re committed to helping our clients enhance their shipping operations while reducing their environmental footprint. As sustainability continues to shape the future of the seafood industry, we’ll be right there, innovating and supporting businesses every step of the way.
Interested in working with one of our packaging consultants to develop a custom solution for your business? Get in touch today!