Increasing sustainability in the clinical trials cold chain

Sustainability is now hard-wired into the DNA of clinical trials businesses. Not only is the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) agenda becoming increasingly crucial to a company’s reputation and success, but there’s also an ethical imperative to conserve the earth’s resources.

Within clinical trials logistics there are specific sustainability matters that need to be addressed. “The smaller deliveries involved in Clinical Trials Logistics mean we have to adopt a different approach to sustainability,” explains Richard Tencer, Global Head of Clinical Operations, DHL Supply Chain. “Things are further challenging because products need to be kept within tightly controlled temperature ranges, normally either below -20°C, between +2°C and +8°C or between +15°C and +25°C.”

It’s neither practical nor sustainable for clinical trial deliveries to use large active temperature-controlled vehicles or single-use passive shippers.