CHARLOTTE, NC—In a pair of legal battles between competitors in the cold-chain packaging industry, Shumaker’s intellectual property team secured a preliminary injunction on behalf of patent owner Yukon Packaging, LLC (Yukon) against Jones Sustainable Packaging, a member of the Jones Family of Companies (Jones). The same week, Yukon secured dismissal of substantially all of the claims brought against it by Jones’s predecessor-in-interest, Eco Fiber, Inc. (EFI).

The preliminary injunction ruling by the Honorable Kenneth Bell of the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina held that Yukon is likely to succeed in its assertion of patent infringement against Jones and that Yukon is likely to suffer irreparable harm absent an injunction. Likewise, the Dismissal ruling by the Honorable Frank Whitney of the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina held that the Court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over the patent claims brought by EFI and that EFI had failed to state a claim for patent false marking, false advertising, and unfair competition, dismissing the claims with prejudice.

Yukon, which specializes in the production of cold packs used to ship vaccines, medicines, and perishable goods, plays a vital role in meeting the rising demand for temperature-sensitive packaging solutions. With an aging population and increasing global demand, Charlotte has emerged as a crucial hub for this growing sector.

Both cases center on Yukon’s patented three-piece insulated container, used for shipping pharmaceuticals and other temperature-sensitive items. These containers incorporate compostable and biodegradable materials, including recycled pre-consumer cotton waste from clothing production. Yukon’s family of patents covers the apparatus, method, and design of these innovative shipping solutions. Following EFI’s initial legal challenge last year, three additional patents were issued to Yukon on January 14, 2025.