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# Hydropac’s paper-fibre box liner insulates and cushions cold chain goods
- URL: https://www.packagingeurope.com/hydropacs-paper-fibre-box-liner-insulates-and-cushions-cold-chain-goods/
- Published: 2026-10-27T08:45:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-27T08:48:27.000Z
- Author: Packaging Europe staff writers
- Tags: Transit, Protection, Sustainability, Recyclability, Renewables, Regulation & Compliance

[**Hydropac**](https://hydropac.co.uk/?ref=packagingeurope.com) **has revealed an insulated box liner made from paper fibre, designed for product protection, EPR compliance and kerbside recyclability in cold chain applications.**

The EcoCool liner is made from clean, unused cardboard cutoffs. According to Hydropac, it is manufactured in a dry production process, powered by renewable electricity, with no added glue or water.

It is intended as a kerbside recyclable alternative to traditional insulation made from polystyrene, loose paper fill, cotton, jute or wool. Designed for kerbside recyclability, it has been independently laboratory tested for technical recyclability in a conventional recycling mill.

Reportedly, EcoCool has achieved a green rating under the UK’s Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM), which is used to gauge the recyclability of packaging formats under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

Under the UK Government’s illustrative 2026/27 fees, plastic packaging will be charged at £415 to £545 a tonne, and paper and board £190 to £250 a tonne.

In Hydropac’s own laboratory, a large box lined with EcoCool and packed with a product and coolant was held for 48 hours in a chamber cycling between roughly 20°C and 25°C; the product surface temperature apparently stayed below 8°C throughout.

Its structure is also designed to absorb shock and keep its shape in transit, protecting cold chain goods from physical damage.

“Sustainable insulation is only sustainable if it works,” said Colin Rowland, managing director at Hydropac. “There are plenty of low-cost paper options that look the part, but the question any packaging team should ask is whether the whole box, liner and coolant together, protects the product on a real route. We've engineered EcoCool around that question.

“Cushioning and insulation have usually meant two different materials. EcoCool does both as a paper-fibre liner. Our advice to brands is simple – don't just swap the liner, look at everything that goes in the box. We’ll help them test it with a coolant and their own product so they can have complete confidence before switching.”

EcoCool is available for use inside 10”, 12” and 14” cubed box systems. It is expected to pair with Hydropac’s existing coolants, including its HydroPure water ice packs, as part of a complete temperature-controlled packaging system.

Hydropac will help customers calculate the right combination of liner, coolant and box for their product, delivery route and temperature requirements, testing each before the brand commits to switching. It also offers advice for customers using non-Hydropac coolants.

EcoCool will go on general release on 12 November 2026, but businesses that register their interest will get early access from 4 November. Registration is [open now](https://info.hydropac.co.uk/ecocool-early-access?ref=packagingeurope.com).

Earlier this year, Hydropac unveiled [HydroFreeze](https://www.packagingeurope.com/hydropacs-water-based-ice-packs-set-to-save-co2-energy-and-material-waste/) – a range of water-based ice packs intended to help customers save energy, reduce waste, and use fewer packs for quicker conditioning operations. Its freeze-down temperature is said to reduce from -30°C to -25°C, allowing suppliers to use commercial freezing units instead of ultra-low temperature infrastructure.

In other news, [Ecocool](https://ecocool.de/en/home-page?ref=packagingeurope.com) has released [JuteBox Pharma](https://www.packagingeurope.com/jute-based-packaging-keeps-pharma-products-cool-and-safe-in-transit/), a shipping carton that contains an insulating liner made from jute. It is designed to transport temperature-sensitive medicines within a temperature range of 2°C to 25°C.

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