Cold chain technology in the logistics world has been around for decades, transforming from simpler times of packing food in ice during transport, to today's complex movement of life-saving vaccines at ultra-cold temperatures.

Although advances in technology have made it easier to ship temperature-controlled products around the world, the basic concept has stayed the same: keep goods at the right temperatures to ensure efficacy and safety for the patient at the end of the supply chain.

UPS Healthcare has used cutting-edge cold chain tools and technology since 2000, helping to keep healthcare parcels at the right temperatures during transport. We have continued making investments throughout the years, moving towards the recent global delivery of COVID-19 vaccines with near-perfect service.

Our continued success is creating long-term value for the future delivery of new medicines, especially biologics and temperature-controlled therapies, which make up more than half of all new medicines in the pipeline.

Now, as chronic and lifestyle diseases - including cancers, respiratory, autoimmune and cardiovascular conditions - grow at a faster rate than ever before, the temperature-controlled medicines and therapies that are rapidly being developed are becoming more important to people around the world every day.

As a result, end-to-end cold chain networks – like UPS Healthcare™ Cold Chain – have become indispensable. The company's custom solutions help protect and safely deliver shipments to communities and patients across the country and around the world.

View infographic of the history of cold chain at UPS Healthcare

Related Articles