What is the term for a temperature-controlled supply chain?

The term for a temperature-controlled supply chain is cold chain.

A cold chain is an uninterrupted sequence of refrigerated or otherwise temperature-controlled activities used to preserve goods from production through storage, transport, and delivery. It is especially important for products whose quality, safety, or effectiveness declines outside a specified temperature range.

Food is a familiar example: fresh produce, seafood, dairy products, and frozen foods may require chilled or frozen transport, insulated packaging, cold rooms, and temperature monitoring. Pharmaceuticals also depend on cold-chain logistics. Many refrigerated medicines and vaccines are kept between 2 and 8 °C, while some products require frozen or ultra-low-temperature handling.

“Cold chain” does not mean every shipment must be frozen. The required range depends on the product, and a broken chain can cause damage even if the goods later appear normal. The term is also distinct from “thermal chain” or “freeze chain,” which are not the standard general expressions. A cold chain may include refrigerated trucks, warehouses, data loggers, insulated containers, and contingency power systems.