Frozen Food Logistics & the Move to -15°C Initiative
Freezing food helps to maintain the nutritional value of food and extends shelf life. As frozen foods are often ready-to-cook, meal preparation is made quicker and easier, ideal for those running on a hectic schedule. In addition, the freezer can save leftovers to be enjoyed again, reducing food waste.
In 2020, the global frozen food market was valued at US$292bn and major players in the frozen food industry include Nestlé, Unilever and Kraft Heinz. Estimates suggest that there are 1.4bn domestic refrigerators and freezers in use globally.
However, a market of that size requires a lot of energy and unlike our devices, freezers cannot be turned off when not in use.
One initiative dedicated to reducing carbon emissions in the frozen food supply chain is The Move to -15°C.
Set up in 2023, the initiative aims to ‘reset frozen food temperature standards’ to lower greenhouse gases and supply chain costs and support global food resources.
The Move to -15°C has welcomed new businesses to its membership base, including supermarket Iceland, Emirates airline and Emergent Cold LatAm. The Move to -15°C has also secured support from key UK trade bodies, the British Frozen Food Federation and the Cold Chain Federation, and Dutch institution, Wageningen University.
Reimagining frozen food standards
Post-war, the domestic freezer became commonplace and a desirable addition to the kitchen.
The frozen food temperature set point of -18°C was established as an industry standard a century ago, yet a fresh report suggests that a move from -18°C to -15°C could make a sizable environmental impact, without the risk of food safety.
Its findings found that this small change in temperature could:
- Save 17.7m metric tonnes of carbon dioxide each year
- Create energy savings of around 25 terawatt-hours (TW/h)
- Cut costs in the supply chain by at least 5%
- Reduce costs in some areas by up to 12%
Membership of The Move to -15°C has grown from 11 companies to over 30 since its launch at COP28. The launch was led by logistics company DP World, which commissioned research to explore the change to -15°C.
The coalition has also welcomed Copeland, Ndustrial, Project44, Martico, Compleat Food Group and Sunswap.
Driving climate action in frozen food logistics
Thomas Eskesen, Chairman of the Move to -15°C Coalition, believes that rapid and ambitious climate action across complex and interwoven frozen food supply chains – which include food production, ports, shipping, road, rail and air freight, cold storage and retail – can only happen through cross-sector collaboration.
“That is why we are so thrilled to welcome these new members to the Move to -15°C coalition,” he explains. “We encourage more organisations to join us and explore the positive impact that moving towards -15°C can have on creating a future-proofed food system and lower carbon world.”
Dennis Lister, Senior Vice President of Product and Innovation, Emirates SkyCargo, says that the company has long been a leader in the movement of perishable food, connecting the global agricultural community with their customers across the globe and delivering freshness you can taste.
“The Move to -15°C Coalition is a future-looking concept, bringing together likeminded partners to evolve the industry in line with current advancements in technology, equipment, facilities, packaging and more,” he says. “We are excited to offer our insight and expertise to help shape the next phase of food logistics while driving meaningful environmental impact.”
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