Tips for using cooling packs in your daily life

On a hot summer day, the protective suits to protect the medical staff were filled with their sweat. The difficult-to-treat 'cooling pack,' which was often used simultaneously, was being used for medical staff! The story of the use of 'cooling packs' to repay the hard work they did to protect us with our hands and feet swelled with rain and sweat! Start now.

How we have changed due to COVID-19

Our daily life has changed in a new direction due to COVID-19. The most typical example is a change in the way we work. Working from home has become more natural without commuting, and non-face-to-face meetings have also increased.

What has also changed is our consumption patterns. As people refrained from going out due to social distancing, eating out naturally decreased, and the demand for food delivery and takeout increased. As a result, the use of single-use products begins to increase exponentially, raising environmental concerns.

In particular, I often use cooling packs that keep the temperature low for freshness when food is delivered. It melts slower than ice, so it can be used for a long time and has excellent cold resistance, so it is considered an indispensable item for food-related delivery. However, the material used in the cooling pack is a super absorbent polymer (SAP, Super Absorbent Polymer) that has a jelly-like form. In other words, it takes at least 500 years for the material in the cooling pack made of microplastics to decompose in nature. So, if you just dump it into the sewer, you can become the main culprit in causing environmental pollution.

A difficult-to-treat cooling pack, reborn!

We have prepared a space so that you can easily dispose of cooling packs, which were difficult to treat due to the difficult handling compared to the amount generated. This made it easier for residents to dispose of cooling packs. Moreover, the collected cooling packs are sorted, and only reusable ones are collected separately.

The collected cooling packs are recycled for the medical staff and workers working in the screening clinics and hospitals. The cooling pack, cleaned and disinfected using useful eco-friendly microorganisms was reborn as an 'ice vest' and used for Corona 19 heroes. This cooling pack 'ice vest' was able to cool down the heat of the medical staff and workers who fought against the heatwave and Corona 19 by wearing protective clothing all over their bodies this summer, which was particularly hot this year.

It does not end here. It can be used not only for ice vests but also for medical items that need to be kept at an appropriate temperature, such as low-temperature storage of samples taken in emergencies such as power outages in screening clinics. At this point, the cooling pack, which was difficult to deal with, is also unique. Here, cooling packs are provided free of charge to merchants in need, such as traditional markets. It reduces the cost of purchasing cooling packs for small business owners and protects the environment.

However, as delivery of food or courier service continues to increase, cooling packs are still a task that everyone has to bear. Yet, our efforts are desperately needed. So, what are some ways you can use cooling packs in your daily life?

How to use cooling packs in various ways in your daily life

Growing plants

I explained earlier that the material that makes up the cooling pack is a super absorbent polymer. I will tell you how to utilize the properties of a polymer with excellent absorbency a hundred times. Since it is made of 99% water and 1% super absorbent polymer, the contents of the cooling pack are easy for hydroponics. In addition, if you water the pots and cover the contents of the cooling pack over the soil, you can hear that even those who have difficulty growing plants at home can hear that they are growing well. This is because the superabsorbent polymer in the cooling pack prevents moisture evaporation and supplies the stored water slowly! However, keep in mind that this method only lasts for up to 3 to 4 days, so please use it as a tip when you are away from home.

Air Freshener

It can also be used as a discarded cooling pack or air freshener. It is also easy to make. Add perfume, oil, fabric softener, etc., to the contents of the cooling pack and mix to make a super simple air freshener. You can also add color by adding paint or ink at this time! In particular, it can be used as a mosquito repellent by adding 10 to 20 drops of oil with a scent that mosquitoes avoid (peppermint, sage, citronella, eucalyptus, etc.).

For cold/hot compresses

Next is how to use it for steaming. It's simple, but it's probably the most necessary way. It can be useful for first aid when injured at home or outside. Cold compresses with cooling packs can help reduce severe swelling. It can also reduce inflammation and prevent bruising. It can also be used as a warm compress by heating it slightly in the microwave. However, if you put it in the microwave for too long, the contents may melt and flow out, so please use it for less than 3 minutes. Since it comes into direct contact with the skin, it is recommended to use a thin towel or cloth for cold and warm compresses.

How to properly dispose of an cooling pack

1. It is most efficient to apply various usage methods

2. Put the cooling pack in the container installed by the apartment or local government 3. Never throw the contents of the cooling pack into the toilet, sewer, sink, etc.

Separate the plastic and dispose of it)

4. Put it in the volume-based waste bag as general waste and throw

it away

You need to use these cooling packs in various ways and treat them in the right way that, as mentioned earlier, the superabsorbent polymer, which is the inner material, is formed of microplastics. In addition to polymers in cooling packs, how to deal with plastics used and thrown away here and there must be done not only by our efforts but also by companies. Britwrap is also producing eco-friendly composite resins as part of its polymer business.