Hydropac is set to shake up cold‑chain packaging with the launch of HydroPure — a water‑based ice pack that turns visibly white when fully frozen, giving fulfilment teams an instant, unmistakable readiness check.

HydroPure has been engineered for food manufacturers, meal‑kit providers, online retailers and pet‑food brands that need reliable cooling performance without the environmental and commercial drawbacks of gel packs. The pack’s built‑in visual freeze indicator is its standout feature: starting black, the pack appears to ‘crack’ as freezing begins, then turns pure white from the core outward once it reaches optimum freeze temperature.

This gives warehouse teams a simple, at‑a‑glance confirmation that a pack is ready for use — removing guesswork and improving consistency across high‑volume operations.

Environmental and commercial advantages

HydroPure arrives as brands reassess packaging strategies under the UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation. Hydropac has received written confirmation from Valpak that water‑filled and gel‑filled ice packs are reported differently under current rules — a distinction that could significantly reduce disposal costs for businesses switching to water‑based coolant formats.

Hydropac’s analysis suggests a standard 500g water ice pack could attract disposal fees of around half a penny, compared with approximately 14.3p for an equivalent gel pack. For a business handling 50 tonnes of packaging annually, that difference could represent £13,750 in savings, rising to more than £137,000 at 500 tonnes.

Responding to evolving regulation

As EPR guidance continues to develop, Hydropac is pressing for clearer, product‑specific rules on coolants and ice packs. However, Valpak’s written advice already provides a strong compliance basis for brands evaluating water‑based alternatives.

Managing director Colin Rowland says HydroPure was created to meet a new set of questions from cold‑chain operators:

“Cold chain packaging has traditionally been judged on one thing: whether it keeps products cold. That will always be essential, but businesses are now asking additional questions — how quickly does it freeze, how simple is disposal, and what does it mean for future packaging costs?”

He adds that HydroPure delivers “exceptional cooling performance without the environmental impacts of gel‑based packs, not to mention the potential it offers for substantially lower EPR costs.”