Global Initiative Doubles Down on Sustainability with Industry Leaders Joining the Coalition
The Move to -15°C, a collaborative effort to slash carbon emissions within the frozen food supply chain, has witnessed a surge in membership since its launch at COP28, more than doubling its ranks.
The initiative challenges the long-held industry standard of storing frozen food at -18°C. Established a century ago with minimal scientific backing, this temperature point has remained the norm despite advancements in logistics technology. Research now suggests a modest 3°C decrease could significantly reduce environmental impact without compromising food safety.
The Move to -15°C aims to capitalize on this breakthrough, aiming to both curb emissions and streamline supply chain costs. Recognizing the necessity of industry-wide cooperation, the initiative recently secured the backing of Nomad Foods, Europe’s leading frozen food manufacturer and owner of iconic brands like Bird’s Eye, Findus, and Iglo. Nomad Foods’ year-long study, published in February 2024, provided landmark evidence: storing frozen food at -15°C instead of -18°C reduces freezer energy consumption by 10-11% without affecting product quality, texture, taste, or nutritional value.
Commitment from other major players like Danish Crown, a leading Danish food company, and the American Frozen Food Institute, representing a significant portion of American frozen food and beverage makers, has further bolstered the coalition.
The initiative’s reach has extended beyond food production. Key players in global transport and logistics have also joined the movement. Indicold, a prominent Indian provider of cold storage solutions, international logistics giant Blue Water Shipping, and Europe’s second-largest cold logistics operator, Constellation Cold Logistics, are the latest additions to a growing list of industry collaborators.
Furthermore, Seacube Container Leasing, a world leader in refrigerated container leasing, IoT technology pioneer Orbcomm, and Seafrigo, with its extensive global refrigerated network, have also pledged their support.
“Collaboration is paramount to our success,” said Thomas Eskesen, Chair of the Move to -15°C Coalition. “We’re thrilled to welcome so many distinguished new members. Not only is our geographic reach expanding, but we’re also seeing increased participation from across the entire frozen food supply chain.”
“By redefining temperature standards, we have the potential to make a substantial contribution to decarbonizing global supply chains. However, this cannot be achieved by a single entity. Our focus remains on expanding our membership and urge all key players within the frozen food sector to join us,” Eskesen emphasized.
On June 25th, Eskesen participated in a panel discussion at Reset Connect titled “Revolutionising Food Sustainability and Supply Chains.” The panel addressed the challenges facing the food industry today and explored solutions like the Move to -15°C that are being implemented to tackle them head-on.