A study brought forward late last year has revealed that lowering frozen food transportation temperatures to -15°C could yield significant environmental and economic benefits without compromising food safety or quality.
Research conducted by experts from the International Institute of Refrigeration, the University of Birmingham, and London South Bank University, among others, indicated that this modest adjustment could save 17.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, or the equivalent emissions of 3.8 million cars, while reducing energy consumption by approximately 25 terawatt-hours, or 8.63% of the UK’s yearly usage.
Additionally, the shift could slash supply chain costs by at least 5% and as much as 12% in some areas. As such, supported by global logistics leader DP World, a principal partner in COP28, the Move to Minus 15°C initiative seeks to redefine frozen food temperature standards, aiming to curb greenhouse gas emissions, cut costs, and enhance food security for the world’s growing population.
But who’s standing by this movement? Existing members include Nomad Foods, Europe’s largest frozen food producer; Morrisons, a major UK retailer; Maersk, a global leader in logistics; Lineage, a top cold storage provider; Kuehne + Nagel, a prominent international transport firm and AJC International, a key player in global food distribution. And recently, UK-based supermarket Iceland, which operates over 900 stores, Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, and Emergent Cold LatAm, a fast-growing cold storage operator in multiple Latin American markets all joined in.
Karen McQuade, the recently appointed BFFF president, also highlighted the importance of raising the standard, arguing this would reduce emissions and save energy by moving to a higher temperature. She does acknowledge this wouldn’t be an easy switch, though, but insists on the need to engage in a frank discussion about whether the standard is still fit for purpose and what potential changes could be made to improve sustainability.
And that’s key: how difficult will it be to make the switch? More answers will likely come in 2025, but it’s something that we should keep an eye on.
Finally, as this year comes to an end, I would like to wish you all Happy Holidays and a profitable New Year! Bogdan.angheluta@trade.media