SOLUTIONS
Flowers
The international flower industry requires specialized temperature management to preserve the beauty, fragrance, and vase life of cut flowers during transport. At Inter Fresh, our floral packaging solutions are born from our origins in the flower industry, providing expert temperature and humidity control for everything from single bouquets to commercial shipments.
Whether you’re wondering how to ship fresh flowers internationally or looking for the best methods for shipping fresh flowers locally, our expertise ensures your blooms arrive in perfect condition.
Flower shipping challenges
Cut flowers face unique challenges during transport that require specialized solutions. Their sensitivity to temperature fluctuations can dramatically affect vase life and appearance, while natural respiration processes generate heat that must be managed to prevent premature aging. Exposure to ethylene, a naturally occurring gas, accelerates deterioration and can cause flowers to wilt prematurely.
Moisture management presents a delicate balance—too little causes wilting and dehydration, while too much promotes fungal growth that can ruin entire shipments. Additionally, the physical delicacy of blooms demands protection from handling damage throughout the logistics chain. If you are considering how to transport fresh cut flowers over long distances, these factors are crucial to address.
Our flower industry heritage
Inter Fresh began in the flower industry, developing solutions for New Zealand growers shipping to distant Northern Hemisphere markets. This experience created the foundation for our expertise in temperature-controlled floral packaging, later applied to other industries. The challenge of maintaining flower quality during 12+ hour flights, often with extended transit times during connections, drove innovations that continue to benefit flower shipping operations today.
Today, we see growing demand for our flower solutions as international flower trade continues to expand and direct-to-consumer flower delivery services proliferate. For businesses exploring the process of shipping fresh flowers, our deep understanding of flower physiology and preservation requirements informs every step we take.
Specialized flower packaging solutions
For flowers in transit, especially those waiting on airport tarmacs or loading docks, protection from temperature extremes is critical. Our small liners shield bouquets from temperature extremes during these vulnerable periods, while our insulated pallet covers provide comprehensive protection for bulk commercial shipments.
How to ship flowers in a box?
For boxed arrangements, our EcoCoolbox combines paper fiber insulation with cardboard construction to create effective thermal barriers. When flexibility is needed, we rely exclusively on the Recycold Climaliner. It folds easily into a standard flower box and has consistently proven to deliver reliable temperature buffering - making it an ideal component in custom floral packaging.
Cooling solutions for temperature management
Different flower varieties have distinct temperature requirements, and our cooling elements are designed to meet these needs.
- Ice Pack XL: ideal for flowers requiring lower temperatures. Its flexible design conforms around bouquets without causing pressure damage to delicate blooms.
- Gel packs: can be placed strategically within flower packaging to create optimal temperature zones.
- Specialized configurations: developed for high-value shipments, such as bridal bouquets, where flawless presentation upon arrival is essential.
Moisture and humidity management
Managing moisture levels is critical to flower preservation during shipping fresh flowers. Our absorption materials maintain relative humidity around 80%, creating ideal conditions that prevent both wilting from dehydration and fungal growth from excess moisture.
By preventing condensation within packaging, our systems help avoid “black flowers”—the catastrophic damage that can occur when flowers are exposed to excessive moisture and warmth during transit. This balanced approach maximizes vase life and preserves the aesthetic qualities that make flowers valuable.
Solutions for different flower types
Different flowers have distinct temperature requirements during transport, requiring tailored approaches.
- Traditional cut flowers: roses, tulips, and similar blooms benefit from cooler temperatures of around 2–4°C. Ice Pack XL provides ideal cooling without direct contact that could damage petals.
- Tropical flowers: Sensitive to cold, these varieties can turn black at temperatures below 10°C. They require protection from low temperatures and careful buffering to maintain quality. For this purpose, we primarily use Climaliners, which protect the flowers from significant temperature fluctuations without the need for an additional heat or cold source.
- Mixed bouquets: containing flowers with different sensitivities, these require balanced temperature management.Our systems can create layered protection that addresses these diverse needs within one flower packaging shipment.
Curious to see how our solutions perform in real-life situations? Read our case study with Flora@Home and discover how Inter Fresh helped protect thousands of plants from frost damage during the winter months with smart climate solutions.
Global flower solutions
Our solutions facilitate global flower trade, handling extreme challenges that illustrate the effectiveness of our systems. How to transport fresh flowers over multiple climate zones is a question we answer daily, ensuring shipments arrive in peak condition. Shipping premium bridal bouquets from Ecuador to Dubai represents one of the most demanding scenarios, requiring flowers to remain perfect despite sitting on sun-exposed tarmacs.
Similarly, delivering Dutch flowers to international hotels for events demands consistent quality across varying flower shipping conditions. For these high-value shipments, our comprehensive systems combine insulation, cooling elements, moisture management, and protective packaging to ensure flowers arrive ready for their intended use.
Preserving beauty and extending vase life
With Inter Fresh solutions, flowers arrive in the same condition they were packed, preserving the artistic work of florists and ensuring customer satisfaction. Our temperature-controlled flower packaging helps extend vase life by preventing premature aging during transit, maximizing the enjoyment of these beautiful, perishable products.
Are you looking for packaging solutions, besides vegetable packaging solutions, for fruit, vegetables or plants, for example? Then check out our other solutions or contact us. At Inter Fresh we are happy to help you find the best solution.
