First lightweight active container made its maiden flight as part of a collaboration between Swiss Airtainer, Swiss WorldCargo and B.P.L. Biotech & Pharma Logistics

Swiss WorldCargo, Swiss Airtainer, and B.P.L. have announced the launch of a self-sustaining airfreight container for life-saving medicine that brings significant weight reduction of 250kgs and thereby less fuel consumption. This achievement seeks to revolutionize the cold chain logistics by providing a sustainable and innovative solution for the transportation of life-saving medicine. The first shipment with this container recently took place from Basel via Zurich to San Francisco.

Lorenzo Stoll, Head of Cargo at Swiss International Air Lines states: "We are excited to be a part of this innovation, which has the potential to significantly impact the transportation of life-saving medicine. The self-sustaining airfreight container is a game-changer for the industry, and we are highly committed to its success.

The topic of sustainability is important for the next generations but also for the future of SWISS and Swiss WorldCargo. At Swiss WorldCargo, we are highly committed to proactively progressing the mobility of goods and air travel as a whole into a more sustainable future. In creating alliances and supporting initiatives like these, we seek to boost technology development and actively contribute to scaling climate technologies, necessary to achieve our industry’s ambitious climate targets.

“B.P.L. are thrilled to be partnering with Swiss WorldCargo and Swiss Airtainer on this first joint shipment. This joint initiative is a great opportunity to explore innovative ways we can reduce our carbon footprint," said Urs Suter, General Manager at B.P.L. Switzerland.

"Our partnership with Swiss WorldCargo is a testament to our shared commitment to sustainability and innovation in the airfreight industry. Together, we are redefining the possibilities of cold chain logistics, and the successful completion of our first joint shipment marks a revolutionary milestone in our journey towards a greener and more efficient future," said Eduard Seligman, CEO of Swiss Airtainer.

The container utilizes solar energy to feed the battery, allowing the thermal unit to maintain the required temperature range without the need for an external power source. This process allows for a simplification of the cold chain and makes the container an ideal solution for transporting medicine to remote and underdeveloped areas, where access to cold chain infrastructure can be limited. The container is made of sustainable and eco-friendly materials in line with minimizing our environmental impact. Additionally, advanced temperature and humidity control systems and smart technology were incorporated which provide real-time tracking and monitoring of the cargo, ensuring that vaccines and other medical supplies arrive at their destination safely and securely.

Swiss Airtainer's airfreight container weights 250 kg less than its competitors and has received the full certifications required, including the one from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which confirms the safety and reliability of the product. Swiss Airtainer has also received strong support from the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) and from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO, further validating the company’s efforts to innovate and improve the airfreight industry.

The project has already received positive feedback from the industry and is set to make a significant impact on the transportation of life-saving medicine.

Swiss WorldCargo, Swiss Airtainer, and B.P.L., three Switzerland based companies, are committed to creating sustainable solutions for the logistics industry and are excited to be at the forefront of this innovative project. All parties involved share the same Swiss values and look forward to the positive impact the collaboration will have on the industry and the communities it serves.