Abstract: An insulating shipping container includes an outer cardboard carton with a foldable top; an open-top, rigid, first thermally insulating housing formed of expanded polystyrene and removably disposed in the outer carton; a second open-top, thermally insulating housing formed of vacuum insulating panels and removably disposed in the first housing; an inner cardboard carton with a foldable top removably disposed in the second housing; and a closure structure including a vacuum insulating panel and expanded polystyrene panels for closing the open tops of the second and first housings.

Abstract: An expandable container is provided which includes first and second nestable modules respectively having first and second peripheral sidewalls. The first module has a first nesting surface portion on the first sidewall and the second member has a second nesting surface portion on the second sidewall nestable with the first nesting surface portion in a nested configuration. The first nesting surface portion has a recess and the second nesting surface portion has a projection interference fittable in the recess in the nested configuration to releasably retain the modules in the nested configuration. At least one of the first and second modules has a bottom wall connected to the associated peripheral sidewall.