A thermal bag is an insulated container used to keep temperature sensitive products fresh. These types of bags are most commonly used to safely deliver food and medical vaccines. The insulation in a thermal bag ensures that both hot and cold temperatures are maintained while its contents are being transported.
In order to ensure safety, the temperature of many food items needs to be kept consistent. When sensitive or perishable food items are moved between locations, a thermal bag is a temporary source of temperature control. For example, pizza delivery bags use insulation in order to keep food warm so that it will not spoil by the time the customer receives it.
Pizza delivery is one of the industries that makes heavy use of thermal packaging. Since delivery drivers may have to locate addresses they are not familiar with, the thermal insulation in the bag makes sure the customers will not be dissatisfied with cold food. Thermal bags maintain the freshness of the food and give the impression that it was just taken out of the oven or microwave.
The interior of a thermal bag contains insulation, often in the form of padding made from a metallic material. For foods and other items that need to be kept warm, the metallic material helps transfer any escaped heat back to its originating source. Padding and metallic material also contains the heat within the thermal bag as long as it remains closed. The thermal insulation is a temporary solution to maintaining temperature control and should not be substituted for longer term solutions, such as a refrigerator.
Besides maintaining heat, thermal insulation can also keep items cold. Perishable and frozen food items, as well as vaccines, may need to be kept at certain temperatures while being transported. Ice packs can be placed in thermal bags to help supplement the insulation. An insulated shipping container is a good solution for smaller shipments of vaccines or food items that only need to travel short distances.
Another type of thermal bag is available for personal use. Some of the lunch bags or totes that are available for consumer purchase use thermal insulation. This can come in handy for individuals who want to bring their own lunches to work sites, but do not have access to a refrigerator. Delivery drivers who work outside of an office location and are constantly mobile typically find insulated lunch bags to be a great convenience.