Etihad Cargo has marked a decade of partnership with Envirotainer, which provides secure cold chain solutions for air transport of pharmaceuticals.

The cargo carrier said this milestone marks a decade of excellence in transporting temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals worldwide, combining Etihad Cargo's comprehensive global network and expertise with Envirotainer's innovative container solutions.

Since the partnership took flight in 2013, Etihad Cargo has utilised Envirotainer's unit load devices (ULDs) to enhance the safety and quality of pharmaceutical shipments via the carrier's International Air Transport Association (IATA) Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV)-certified PharmaLife product.

It noted that in 2023, Etihad Cargo utilised Envirotainer's active containers on 134 per cent more trips than the previous year.

The carrier also increased pharmaceutical and healthcare shipments by 37%, marking the highest volumes in Etihad Cargo's history. 

"This growth demonstrates Etihad Cargo's continued investment in its infrastructure, product features and partnerships, which have enabled the carrier to contribute to creating a healthcare ecosystem in Abu Dhabi and a robust global pharma supply chain," the carrier said.

Etihad Cargo has been awarded the Qualified Envirotainer Providers (QEP) accreditation for its Abu Dhabi hub and 29 more stations across its network, demonstrating the carrier's commitment to maintaining quality in its cool chain operations.

This accreditation demonstrates Etihad Cargo's strong commitment to the highest standards of quality and reliability in the temperature-controlled freight industry, it added.

Etihad Cargo noted that this collaboration with Envirotainer extends beyond container provision, emphasising excellence in training and standards elevation. To date, 16 of Etihad Cargo's Pharma Champions have undergone specialised training at the Envirotainer Academy.

"Furthermore, this partnership has embodied a shared vision for innovation, particularly in leveraging technology to streamline processes and enhance transparency within the global pharmaceutical supply chain," it said.

"Etihad Cargo and Envirotainer are currently developing a unified booking platform. This initiative promises to simplify the container booking process and provide customers with more transparent and efficient tracking capabilities," Etihad added.

Thomas Schürmann, head of cargo Operations & delivery at Etihad Cargo, said: "Etihad Cargo's decade-long partnership with Envirotainer reflects the shared ongoing commitment to creating a more robust, resilient and transparent global healthcare ecosystem. Through this collaboration, Etihad Cargo has been able to ensure the seamless delivery of essential life-saving medicines to improve the lives of people around the world while overcoming logistical challenges and providing transparency."

Akos Balkanyi, global key account manager, said, "This significant milestone highlights the true collaboration between our two companies and resonates with our mission of enabling global access to biopharmaceuticals."

Etihad Cargo and Envirotainer have marked a decade-long partnership, which both organisations hope to continue as they work to advance the pharmaceutical logistics industry.