Temperature-sensitive air cargo is becoming a core pillar of the global supply chain. With rising demand from pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, the need for robust, connected and flexible cold chain solutions has never been greater. 

“The market has evolved over the years,” says Delphine Perridy, chief commercial officer at Envirotainer. “The focus now is on a more structural, long‑term demand pattern — particularly as biopharma companies expand global clinical trial footprints, launch more temperature-sensitive biologics, and adopt direct-to-patient delivery models.”

That shift means greater scrutiny of packaging and operational performance. “More companies are moving away from single-use packaging towards solutions that offer greater visibility, reliability, and cost-efficiency.”

To support this, Envirotainer launched the Releye RKN container. “The Releye RKN delivers market-leading autonomy of over 130 hours (more than 5 days), protecting cargo for longer, even in the event of unforeseen delays or supply chain disruptions.” It joins a broader product line offering real-time visibility and reduced carbon emissions.

Beyond active units, the company has expanded into advanced passive solutions. “Following the integration with va-Q-tec’s pharma business, we have also strengthened our portfolio,” says Perridy. “Pharmaceutical companies can now transport products at any temperature, size, and at any stage of the product lifecycle.”

These innovations are backed by strategic station growth: “We follow the market; we’ve got 100 stations now, and we can set up in a new location in a relatively short period of time, if needed.”

Compliance is no longer optional. “We are witnessing a strong trend towards GDP and CEIV, and expect that, rather than certification providing businesses with an advantage, it will be considered baseline going forward,” says Perridy. “A significant number of pharmaceuticals are wasted every year due to a lack of awareness and preparedness for these temperature variations.”

Resilience through visibility 

The rising frequency of climate events and geopolitical volatility puts added pressure on supply chains. “Medicines may pass through varying extreme temperatures and regions with different infrastructure available,” Perridy notes. “Finding suitable logistics and packaging solutions can be difficult. This difficulty will only grow as global warming worsens.”

Predictive tools are key. “Through predictive analytics, AI can foresee disruptions, such as weather delays,” she explains. “AI can also analyse data provided by sensors on cargo containers to predict and prevent equipment failures, ensuring continuous operation, reliability, and minimising downtime.”

Technology alone, however, is not enough. “We have also developed easy integrations between our shipment data and our customers’ own existing systems. By integrating these applications, customers can easily manage workflows from a single platform.”

Human monitoring.

“Our Releye solution offers integrated real-time live monitoring as standard,” Perridy says. “We back this up with our 24/7 Control Tower service, meaning we can follow their shipment’s every move, and are ready to respond and proactively reach out to customers within minutes to any potential critical event.”

Collaboration is no longer optional. “The industry has improved in terms of partnerships between the different stakeholders. This is a key learning: those who have taken it to heart are more successful. If we only take pharmaceuticals from a single point of view, we end up with silos, and so partnerships are becoming increasingly critical when building resilience into operations.”

The demand profile for cold chain logistics is also changing. “We have seen some interesting developments in pharma, with specialised, individualised treatment becoming increasingly popular,” Perridy says.

This trend means low volumes, often small parcels, and very high-value shipments, potentially being moved over shorter distances and needing to be kept extremely cold — potentially as low as below -150 degrees.

Technology innovation continues to drive this shift. “Over the past year, logistics providers have been adopting digital technologies, ranging from IoT and blockchain to AI, to enhance transparency, efficiency, and reliability.”

Still, she adds, AI will take time. “Effective AI adoption remains a gradual process, focusing on long-term gains rather than immediate results. Each step forward builds on previous progress, leading to significant benefits in the long run.”

What matters, Perridy stresses, is global accessibility. “We can’t let geopolitical tensions disrupt the pharma supply chain; if you need treatment, you need it no matter where you live. Our promise to the market is to enable global access to pharmaceuticals, and what we do every single day is important to someone.”

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