Choose a packing container that is three inches thick and urethane-insulated if you're shipping items with dry ice. Select a cooler that is specifically made for use with dry ice; it will have the necessary ventilation. Adequate ventilation is needed because the CO2 emitted by dry ice as it sublimates can cause packaging to expand, and possibly burst. Look online for specialty packaging.
Transport items with dry ice in a cooler (Styrofoam will do) if traveling by car. Slide the lid off the cooler about an inch to keep the cooler from being airtight and possibly bursting from CO2 emissions. Leave car windows rolled down half-way to insure that adequate ventilation is provided in the vehicle, or you could get lightheaded from CO2 emissions.
Line the sides and bottom of the cooler with sheets of Styrofoam to extend dry ice's effectiveness.
If you're packaging small quantities, pack a cooler with the items first, then top with dry ice. For larger quantities of packed items, layer the dry ice throughout the container. Handle dry ice with gloves and wrap the ice in newspapers before placing ice in the container. Some dry ice is sold in 10-inch squares at about 10 pounds each, and two inches thick. One square of dry ice per 15 inches of ice chest or container length should be sufficient.
Calculate the amount of dry ice needed by knowing the weight of what you are shipping. For each two pounds of frozen food, two pounds of dry ice are sufficient for a four-hour time period. Four pounds of dry ice would be required to keep items frozen for 12 hours, and eight pounds of dry ice would be needed to keep things frozen for 24 hours. Consult a Frozen Food Packing Chart, which should be available through any transport service.
Fill up empty spaces within the cooler with bubble wrap or crumpled newspaper, because empty space accelerates dry ice sublimation.
There are federal rules imposed by the The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) that govern the shipment of dried ice. Consult the carrier you wish to use for requirements when shipping items packed in dry ice via commercial transport.
