The University of Huddersfield and Puffin Packaging Limited KTP 24_25 R4

Every year, millions of vaccine doses and temperature-sensitive medicines are ruined because the insulated packaging they travel in fails to keep them cold enough for long enough. This project, a collaboration between the University of Huddersfield and Puffin Packaging Limited, aims to develop new insulated packaging that is both more effective and more sustainable for the pharmaceutical industry. Current solutions often struggle to maintain precise temperature ranges—such as the cold chain (2–8°C) required for many vaccines, or the ambient range (15–25°C) needed for other drugs—over extended shipping periods. They also generate significant plastic waste. If successful, the research could produce packaging that keeps medicines stable for longer during transit, reducing spoilage and the financial losses that come with it. It would also cut down on single-use plastics and other non-recyclable materials. For patients, this means more reliable access to life-saving drugs, especially in regions with long or unpredictable supply chains. For the environment, it means less waste from the healthcare sector. The work is applied and commercially focused, with a direct path to manufacturing and real-world use.