FAQ's
How to Dispose of Gel Ice Packs
Businesses worldwide are facing sustainability challenges — and rising pressures from eco-conscious consumers and regulatory bodies. Cold chain shippers can face these pressures head-on by adopting more sustainable packaging practices.
At Pelton Shepherd, we understand the challenge of practicing sustainability while keeping shipping costs low, and we offer solutions to address this obstacle. Many of our gel packs are reusable or feature a recyclable pouch. Our TerraTemp line, in particular, was designed to provide cost-effective sustainability and low-impact disposal.
See our gel pack disposal instructions below to learn more about our refrigerants and how end users can handle them.
Glacier Ice™
Glacier Ice™ is our most economical gel pack. Its disposal can take any of the following forms:
Recycle
End users can rinse the plastic pouch and recycle it like any other plastic bag after disposing of the gel. They simply need to cut the corner of the pouch and pour the gel into the trash. Since Glacier Ice™ gel is 99.5% water, it will significantly dehydrate if landfilled.
Note that while Glacier Ice™ gel is non-toxic, it is not drain-safe and may cause a clog if poured down the drain.
Discard
End users can dispose of the gel by simply pouring it into the trash. Since Glacier Ice™ gel is 99.5% water, it will significantly dehydrate if landfilled.
Note that while Glacier Ice™ gel is non-toxic, it is not drain-safe and may cause a clog if poured down the drain.
End users may also dispose of the whole gel pack in their waste bin.
Reuse
You can encourage customers to reuse the Glacier Ice™ gel packs that arrive in their packages. They can rinse, clean and store Glacier Ice™ gel packs in their freezer and use them in lunch boxes or ice chests to keep perishables cold
You can expect the following advantages and features when you choose Glacier Ice™:
- Ideal temperature control for one-way shipments: Though Glacier Ice™ gel packs consistently demonstrated the longest-lasting cold, their cost-efficiency makes them the ideal solution for one-way shipments. With Glacier Ice, you can cut shipping costs and still maintain accurate temperature control.
- Puncture-resistant: The Glacier Ice™ film is a tough #4 recyclable plastic that can resist punctures and will not tear easily with impact or abrasions. Its durable construction reduces the risk of leaks, helping to protect sensitive products.
- Reusable: You can reuse Glacier Ice™ gel packs for transporting products internally to minimize waste and prevent frequent ordering of new gel packs. You can also encourage customers to rinse the gel packs and store them in their freezers to use in lunch boxes or ice chests.
- Nonhazardous: Glacier Ice™ gel packs are noncaustic and nontoxic. Employees and customers can handle the gel packs easily and safely without personal protection equipment under normal handling conditions. Customers can also appreciate knowing their food or medications were packaged with nonhazardous materials.
- Versatile: Choose from various weights and dimensions, ambient or frozen, to fit your unique pack-out needs. For example, Glacier Ice™ is available in sizes ranging from 4 to 96 ounces, making it a flexible option when you have varying size requirements.
Contact us — we’ll be happy to discuss samples with you and answer any questions.
Though there is no reliable data on how many gel packs are sold by whom every year, we know that our products have always had a leading position in the market. When we launched Glacier Ice™ in the early nineties, it quickly became one of the most sold gel packs for shipping. The next competitive brand was not started until about 10 years later. This is why we can confidently say that more Glacier Ice™ gel packs have been sold in the United States than any other shipping gel pack brand.
Although Glacier Ice™ packs are nontoxic and noncaustic, they are not drain-safe and may clog pipes. Therefore, we recommend disposing of the gel by emptying it into the trash and recycling the plastic film with your plastic bags.
This VIDEO explains how to dispose of Glacier Ice™ Gel Packs.
Employees or customers may also dispose of whole gel packs in a waste bin according to state and local laws. Note that Glacier Ice™ gel comprises 99.5% water and will dehydrate to 0.5% of its weight.
You can download the Glacier Ice SDS here.
We ask customers to order a minimum of four Pallets.
There are answers in our Business FAQs and Consumer FAQs sections. Alternatively contact us.