Promotional feature: BIFA Freight Service Awards Sponsored by Winner: www.bifa.org


costs further, possibly by replacing the cardboard outer structure with a tent pole design. It


is


Having developed an innovative, bespoke, passive temperature- controlled supply chain solution with sustainability in mind, Gist International won BIFA’s Cool & Special Cargoes Award into the bargain


Gist ships temperature- sensitive products around the world for its clients, including everyday short- life chilled products for Asia (such as dairy, prepared meals and produce), along with imports like prepared tropical fruit from South Africa into the UK. Gist general manager


Danny Waite summed up: “Temperature-controlled logistics is what we do. It’s not just about temperature though; it’s also about time.” When Gist won a contract


with a leading British retailer to process, add value and transport its chilled product via air freight to a number of customers in the Asia Pacific and MENA regions, work began in partnership with Polar Thermal to develop a packaging solution that would maintain a product temperature of no higher than 4°C for up to 60 hours. This far exceeds the


normal journey time from the UK to Hong Kong, building in considerable contingency against delays. It also opens up access to a wider range of more cost-


are significant. He explained: “It can


also looking at a


lighter version for shorter supply chains. “The 60-hour solution was necessary because of unexpected supply chain delays, often while


the product is on


the aircraft, or when it is unloaded,” Withers said. “But


for shorter flights we


don’t have that challenge.” Both Withers and


Waite stressed that the partnership with Polar Thermal has been key to Gist’s success in developing the bespoke packaging. “We’ve got the product


expertise and Polar has the solution expertise,” Waite said.


Wider benefits


According to Withers, the environmental – and social – attributes of the packaging


Danny Waite, Gist International general manager


effective, non-direct global freight routes. The new packaging is


made from Polar Thermal proprietary material with high-density, low-weight insulation and a supportive cardboard outer. Gel packs keep the product cool throughout its journey, said business implementation manager Martin Withers.


Also shortlisted


“The gel packs come to us unfrozen and we freeze them down to -22°C,” he continued. “They hold a lot of energy, which is released very slowly as they thaw. After about 60 hours, they are still frozen, although their temperature might rise to about -4°C.” Numerous trials ensured


that the packaging solution would satisfy Gist’s customer’s technical team and keep products below 4°C for the requisite length of time.


Further development


Gist has continued to enhance the packaging solution. For instance, a larger version enables optimal use of each pallet position on an aircraft to


Martin Withers, Gist International business implementation manager


improve cost effectiveness, Withers said. “We’re paying less for


non-sellable freight,” he explained. “We


can also


reduce the number of gel packs we use in the larger version, because the greater quantity of produce helps keep the temperature of the whole pallet down.” Waite added: “We’ve also


developed a ‘onesie’ version for products such as apples that have to be inspected before export. This version slips over the top of the packed pallet, rather than having the product packed into it.” Gist is working with Polar Thermal to reduce


The BIFA Freight Service Awards competition has been running for 32 years and is open to all full trading and probationary members of the UK trade association for freight forwarding companies. The Awards comprise eight main categories, plus Young Freight Forwarder (YFF) and Apprentice of the Year (AOTY) categories. The event has long been sponsored by eminent companies, and is recognised as one of the most prestigious in the industry. https://awards.bifa.org/awards


packaging was designed to be as lightweight as possible to maximise value – and minimise the environmental impact. “Plus, at the end of its life


it can be recycled,” Withers went on. “We collect the units that are no longer reusable and send these to Polar, who use the insulating material to make sleeping bags for the homeless.”


be reused multiple times, which makes it cost effective. Furthermore, as costs for shipping by air are on a per kilo basis, the


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