Frozen food temperature rise could mean major emissions cut

Research suggests that storing freezer produce at three degrees warmer than regulations currently require could be a huge boost to climate efforts.

With world and environmental leaders currently in Dubai for COP28, at which food and agriculture are enjoying far more attention that at previous summits, the timing of the study – conducted by experts at Paris-based International Institute of Refrigeration, the University of Birmingham, and London South Bank University – could not be more apt.

A global logistics giant and a principal pathway partner at this year’s COP, the company conducted an in-depth assessment of the impact, risks and benefits of moving frozen food storage maximum temperatures to -15C. This is currently set at -18C, as it has been since the 1930s, despite experts long pointing to the fact that a marginal increase to this temperature would not be detrimental to health and safety. 

In contrast, by increasing the threshold by three degrees, around 25 terawatt hours of electricity could be saved, equating to 8.63% of the UK’s annual energy consumption. Looking specifically at emissions, this switch could be the same as removing 3.8million cars off the road annually. 

You can read the full report here.

Responding to the findings, a major coalition of logistics, food producers and storage businesses, representing 60% of the global market, have now launched the Move to -15C campaign in a bid to catalyse wholesale change in the sector. Members now include AJC Group, A.P. Moller – Maersk, Daikin, DP World, Lineage, the Global Cold Chain Alliance, Kuhne + Nagel, Mediterranean Shipping Company, and Ocean Network Express.

‘Sustainably feeding the world requires a steadfast commitment to preserving, protecting and optimizing the distribution of food safely – and the cold chain plans a pivotal role in accomplishing this,’ said Greg Lehmkuhl, President and CEO of Lineage. ‘We look forward to collaborating with the coalition on the collective future of evolved industrywide protocols.’

‘Frozen food standards have not been updated in almost a century. They are long overdue for revision. A small temperature increase could have huge benefits but – however committed each individual organisation is – the industry can only change what’s possible by working together,’ said Maha AlQattan, Group Chief Sustainability Officer at DP World.

‘With this research and with our newly formed coalition, we aim to support collaboration across the industry to find viable ways to achieve the sector’s shared net zero ambition by 2050,’ they continued. ‘The Move to -15°C will bring the industry together to explore new, greener standards to help decarbonise the sector on a global scale. Through this research, we can see how we can deploy accessible storage technologies in all markets to freeze food at sustainable temperatures, while reducing food scarcity for vulnerable and developed communities.’

More on heating, ventilation and cooling: 

Retrofitting required: G20 net zero targets will fail on building emissions

The future of carbon-neutral buildings: Trends and predictions

Image: Eduardo Soares