Benefits of Cold Storage Warehousing: Why and When to Use It

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Summary:

• Cold storage can prolong the shelf-life of perishable and temperature-sensitive goods, preventing illness or inventory loss due to spoilage or expiration. 
• Temperature controls are necessary to accommodate the storage requirements of different products, including fruits, vegetables, pharmaceuticals, and cut flowers. 
• Reusable and biodegradable gel packs are a safe alternative to dry ice for refrigerated shipping.
• Custom shipping boxes are ideal for products, such as lithium-ion batteries that need to be stored and transported in a climate-controlled environment.
• Labels that notify shipping and warehouse personnel of the need to refrigerate temperature-sensitive items on arrival can help to preserve your products.

Cold storage, whether for transportation or warehousing, has been used for more than a century to preserve perishable and temperature-sensitive goods for sale. Depending on your inventory — e.g., food or pharmaceuticals — your cold storage may be a single cold room in a warehouse or an entire facility. 

Cold storage can have multiple benefits for your business. Discover how your warehouse can benefit from cold storage and when to use it. 

What Are the Benefits of Cold Storage?

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If you store goods that are perishable or require a controlled temperature to remain fresh, cold storage provides several benefits.

Prolongs shelf-life

If you need to store seasonal fruits and vegetables that can take months to grow, prolonging their shelf-life can be vital to your bottom line. Combined with atmospheric controls, refrigerated storage can reduce the respiration rate of produce, preventing them from spoiling. Some other examples of products that benefit from cold storage include:

Plants and flowers

Cold storage preserves freshly cut plants and flowers from deterioration because the colder temperatures reduce the respiration rate.

Cosmetics

Some cosmetics, such as lipstick and skincare products, need to be stored at properly controlled temperatures to avoid becoming inert or melting.

 Chemical storage

In addition to increasing the shelf-life of perishable products, cold storage is also often necessary for volatile chemicals, such as solvents, that could deteriorate or evaporate at higher temperatures. 

Customizable temperature controls 

A cold storage facility or cold room with separate chambers allows you to set the temperature you need for specific products. For example, if you store different types of fruits, or both food and medications, the temperature requirements may differ significantly. 

Health and safety

Perishable goods, particularly foodstuff and medications, are susceptible to spoilage if exposed to high or fluctuating temperatures. If foods like meat and poultry spoil, they can become unsafe to eat.

Reliable refrigeration reduces the risks associated with food poisoning by slowing the growth of harmful microorganisms that can cause foodborne illnesses. 

 Cost-effective

Reducing spoilage is crucial to avoiding costly inventory losses, especially if you store medications or artwork. However, cold storage doesn’t only prevent loss but also slows the rate of deterioration. For some goods, such as paintings, a high temperature can cause colors to fade. If high enough, it may also cause colors to run or film to melt. 

Refrigerated Shipping

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Cold storage isn’t limited to warehousing. It also includes refrigerated shipping. The standard option for keeping items cold in transit is dry ice. While effective as a cooling agent, there is a risk of frostbite if you handle dry ice without gloves. 

If you’re concerned about potential contamination, gel packs for shipping that contain refrigerants offer a safe alternative for preserving temperature-sensitive products against spoilage as they’re transported in trucks or vans.

Custom Storage Boxes

Refrigerated storage is only one component of the logistics chain that you need to consider. When you need to ship temperature-sensitive products, whether refrigerated or not, you also need packaging. 

Custom shipping boxes are ideal for several products, including lithium-ion batteries, which also need to be stored in climate-controlled facilities. 

Proper Labeling

When your refrigerated goods arrive at their destination, whether that’s another part of the supply chain or the end user, it’s important to notify warehouse personnel or the customer that the products need to be refrigerated. 

For this purpose, you can apply small “keep refrigerated” stickers on your packaging. A high contrast design, such as stickers that use white lettering on a red background, are best, as these are highly visible and draw attention. 

Find the Packaging and Labeling Options You Need

At Air Sea Containers, Inc., we offer a wide variety of packaging and labeling solutions for your business. We have everything you need to ship your products safely and effectively, from dunnage air bags, air pillows, and gel packs to hazmat storage drums and placards.