Correct disposal of our ice packs
Ice pack disposal is fast becoming a focal point for customers and end users who receive their chilled orders with ice packs as the coolant. As awareness grows of the potential eco impact of other types of coolants (such as dry ice), ice packs are becoming more and more popular, but it’s important that the end recipients know how to dispose of them properly.
We can’t speak for everyone else’s ice packs, but when it comes to ours, the following guidelines apply:
Water Ice Packs
Our water ice packs are the most eco friendly in our range; they’re food contact safe, contain nothing except water and are so pure that we can provide a full cleanliness and safety certification for every order leaving our factory.
Why is this? It’s because we send quality-controlled samples of each production run to an independent lab who undertake microbiological testing. All water ice packs in our factory must pass QC processes including chlorination, softening and UV treatment.
Water ice pack disposal
- The contents of our water ice packs can be poured safely away down the drain with any other household water – or indeed, it can be used to water plants or animals, if you prefer.
- The ice pack outer film can be recycled at specialist LDPE recycling plants. Please check with your local council for more details, and there are many supermarkets with plastic bag collection points – you can add the ice pack outer shells there, too.
Gel Ice Packs (Hydropac® range)
Our Gel Ice Packs are filled with a non-toxic polymer solution that has been through multiple quality control processes in order to ensure it is food contact safe. This includes UV sterilisation, softening, 3 stage filtration and chlorination.
Like our water ice packs, the gel packs must pass checks at an independent laboratory to ensure they are clean and pure; each gel ice pack leaving our factory has a full cleanliness and safety certificate.
Hydropac offers every customer a customized solution for chilled and conditioned shipping. For example, we help a customer with limited freezing capacity to deliver gel packs frozen and ready to use, and we can manufacture almost all shapes and sizes of cooling elements. As a customer, you come first: we are here to help you.
Gel ice pack disposal
- The contents of our gel ice packs cannot be poured away down the drain, so it is best to pour this into the general waste bin.
- The ice pack itself is made of the same material as water ice packs and can be recycled at specialist LDPE recycling plants or supermarket plastic bag recycling points. Please check with your local council for more details.
- One great idea for our gel ice packs is to reuse them – we have many reuse ideas, including as ice packs for injuries, picnics or food shopping and cooling yourself or your pets down in the hot months – see more here: https://hydropac.co.uk/reusing-our-ice-packs-for-the-added-chill-factor/
Pre-Frozen Ice Packs
Our pre-frozen ice packs are available in both water and gel form, and are the same as our water and gel packs as above, they’re just set already frozen for convenience.
Gel Ice Packs (Pharmapac® range)
The Gel Ice Packs in our Pharmapac range are different to those in our Hydropac range. This is because they are specialist ice packs for use with shipping pharmaceutical and medical products, which have different requirements for frozen delivery that foodstuffs. They maximise the duration on latent energy transfer as they are filled to capacity.
Pharmapac® 750g gel ice packs use pure filtered water that has been UV treated, alongside a gel formula for that additional chill factor.
Pharmapac® Gel ice pack disposal
Sustainability Hydropac and CSR
Sustainability isn’t just a trend for us – it’s a promise. As we innovate, create, and lead, we keep our planet’s well-being at the forefront. With Hydropac, you’re not just preserving the quality of your cargo; you’re contributing to a healthier world.
Experience the power of sustainable temperature assurance with Hydropac – where excellence and environmental responsibility coexist for a brighter future.
