The Challenge
LGC Clinical Diagnostics is a global provider of analytical and diagnostic services, with a wide range of quality control materials which must be kept within specific temperature ranges. Previously, to ensure temperature stability, LGC had been using a combination of ice packs and dry ice, within individual expanded polystyrene shippers, for their multi-pallet shipments from Ireland to the U.S. This existing solution required significant volume of ice packs, dry-ice, and other packaging materials, with the associated costs, environmental impact for shipping and disposal at destination. To reduce costs and improve the environmental footprint, LGC needed a more sustainable and cost-effective solution for their cold chain logistics.
The Solution
To address LGC's challenge, UPS Healthcare recommended a passive pallet container supporting 120 hours of temperature stability and covering multiple temperature ranges to support LGC’s refrigerated (2 to 8°C) and deep frozen (-30 to -40°C) commodities. The UPS Healthcare team presented temperature stability data, designed the commodity configuration to maximise container space, and outlined the built-in contingencies to earn LGC's trust in trying a new transportation solution. The passive container would eliminate the need for dry ice, reduce the use of corrugated packaging and overpack materials, and significantly reduce LGC's carbon footprint.
Key impacts:
- In the first month, transported 15,300 kits of frozen product with zero waste and a cost saving of $20,000
- Increased weekly capacity of kits shipping to the U.S.
- Reduced packing and unpacking activities by 90%
- Eliminated the manual handling of heavy ice blocks
The Results
LGC to transport their valuable commodities in a temperature-controlled environment, ensuring the product arrived without temperature excursion or loss. Additionally, the solution eliminated the need for single-use corrugated packaging and overpack materials and reduced LGC's reliance on ice packs and dry ice, leading to a positive impact on their carbon footprint.
The partnership between LGC Clinical Diagnostics and UPS Healthcare demonstrated the benefits of collaboration and innovation in solving complex challenges in the healthcare industry. This year alone, LGC realised a cost savings of $67K using the frozen container and $44k with the 2 to 8°C container with several container shipments still pending. The solution not only provided greater efficiency and cost savings but also aligned with LGC's global sustainability goals.
