Gel Ice Pack Market Report 2026

The gel ice pack market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $14.56 billion in 2025 to $17.04 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of healthcare cold therapy usage, growth in pharmaceutical distribution networks, increasing demand for perishable food transport, rising adoption of first aid products, availability of low-cost gel pack materials.

The gel ice pack market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $29.98 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.2%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing focus on vaccine and biologics logistics, rising demand for home healthcare solutions, expansion of e-commerce grocery delivery, increasing preference for eco-friendly packaging, development of advanced gel formulations. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing demand for reusable cold therapy products, growing adoption in pharmaceutical cold chain, rising use in food and beverage transportation, expansion of medical-grade gel packs, enhanced focus on temperature retention performance.

The growing use of ice packs for managing chronic pain is expected to drive the expansion of the gel ice packs market going forward. Chronic pain cases are increasing due to factors such as an aging population, sedentary lifestyles, rising obesity levels, and the growing prevalence of conditions including arthritis and diabetes. Gel ice packs help manage chronic pain by reducing inflammation, numbing affected areas, and relieving discomfort through targeted cooling therapy. For example, in August 2023, according to the US Pain Foundation, a US-based nonprofit organization focused on supporting individuals with chronic pain, nearly 21% of the US population, or about 51.6 million adults, experienced chronic pain lasting longer than three months. Among these individuals, 17.1 million suffered from high-impact chronic pain that significantly limited their ability to work or perform daily activities. Therefore, the increasing reliance on ice packs for chronic pain management is contributing to the growth of the gel ice packs market.

Leading companies operating in the gel ice pack market are prioritizing the development of advanced solutions, such as environmentally friendly gel packs, to replace traditional synthetic and non-recyclable alternatives. Eco-friendly solutions are sustainable technologies or practices designed to minimize environmental impact by conserving resources, reducing pollution, and supporting ecological balance. For instance, in 2024, Nordic Cold Chain Solutions, a Sweden-based cold-chain logistics provider, introduced Nordic Ice-Eco Paper Gel Packs. This innovation replaces conventional gel packs with fully sustainable, zero-waste gel refrigerants that deliver industry-leading thermal performance while being compostable and recyclable through curbside programs. The solution ensures effective temperature control during transportation while enabling businesses to lower waste and environmental impact without sacrificing efficiency or product safety. Integrated with Nordic’s broader cold-chain offerings, including insulated mailers, cooler boxes, and temperature monitoring systems, the eco-friendly gel pack supports more sustainable and streamlined cold-chain operations while advancing corporate environmental objectives.

In July 2024, Cryopak, a US-based provider of cold-chain packaging and temperature monitoring solutions, acquired the gel-pack manufacturing segment of Garden State Cold Storage (GSCS) for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition forms part of Cryopak’s strategy to strengthen its manufacturing capabilities and improve operational efficiency. By incorporating GSCS’s facility in Carteret, New Jersey, Cryopak can now manufacture gel packs and perform freezing operations at a single location. Garden State Cold Storage (GSCS) is a US-based company that offers cold storage and logistics services.

Major companies operating in the gel ice pack market are Medline Industries LP, Intco Medical Technology, Cryopak Industries Inc., Techni Ice, Cold Ice Inc., Inuteq, Sammons Preston, Pelton Shepherd Industries Inc., Nordic Cold Chain Solutions, Polar Tech Industries, Lifoam Industries LLC, Insulated Products Corp., Cold Chain Technologies LLC, Gelpackdirect, Satyog Engineering Industries, Kalyani Enterprises, Stream Peak International Pte Ltd, Intelligent Packaging Ltd, Coolpac India, Thermal Packaging Solutions.

North America was the largest region in the gel ice pack market in 2025. The regions covered in the gel ice pack market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the gel ice pack market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The gel ice pack market consists of sales of single-use gel packs and multi-use packs. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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