With one courier, a small pack count and a short delivery window, the low weight of a bag is an advantage, and folding on the empty return saves space. In exchange, shape, zip condition and outside impact need closer watching.
With many drops, repeated opening, in-vehicle stacking and regular washing, the fixed geometry of a rigid box comes into its own: the lid closes the same way each time, the inner layout can be rebuilt and the body separates the load from outside impacts.
| Question | Points towards a bag | Points towards a rigid box |
|---|---|---|
| How many deliveries? | One or few | Many drops |
| How does it return empty? | Return space is very tight | Regular collection exists |
| Cleaning frequency? | Occasional and controlled | Frequent and standardised |
| Is there stacking? | No | Yes |
Trial both candidates with the same product basket, the same cold-source arrangement and the same stop sequence; do not overstate capacity by cutting the space the product or cold source needs. Do not decide on the first outward trip alone: compare the full cycle, including return and cleaning.
