Cold chain packaging

Abstract

A method of making a cold chain package, includes, providing corresponding rolls of dissimilar insulating packaging material; forming separate panels from sheets of dissimilar insulating packaging material provided by the corresponding rolls; enclosing the panels in a membrane, the membrane defining a hinge between the panels that are adjacent to each other; and folding the panels along each hinge to form a box-shaped chamber.

1 . A method of making a cold chain package, the method comprising:
 providing corresponding rolls of dissimilar insulating packaging material;   forming separate panels from sheets of dissimilar insulating packaging material provided by said corresponding rolls;   enclosing said panels in a membrane, said membrane defining a hinge between said panels that are adjacent to each other; and   folding said panels along each said hinge to form a box-shaped chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said insulating packaging material includes at least one of foam, foam laminated to foil, cushioning material laminated to foil and polyester film laminated to fiberfill filling material. 
     
     
         3 . The cold chain package of  claim 1 , further comprising forming said panels to have a thickness of 1.5 to 2.5 inches. 
     
     
         4 . A method for distributing cold chain packaging comprising:
 producing and assembling a cold chain package having a pre-printed address identifier that identifies a shipping location;   inserting a cold chain package and an article to be delivered in a shipping container at the shipping location, the cold chain package maintaining the article at a desired temperature during shipping;   delivering the shipping container to a designated location;   returning the cold chain package to the shipping location identified by the pre-printed address identifier via a package courier; and   reusing the cold chain package in another shipping container.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising at least one of the steps of checking the cold chain package for damage and repairing the cold chain package prior to reusing the cold chain package.