Two leading trade bodies in the UK have joined a campaign to alter frozen food transport temperatures.
- The Cold Chain Federation and the British Frozen Food Federation now support raising storage temperatures from -18°C to -15°C.
- Advancements in technology ensure food safety and quality at slightly higher temperatures, reducing carbon emissions.
- The campaign aims to redefine century-old standards, reflecting modern practices and environmental needs.
- Significant carbon savings could result, equivalent to removing millions of cars from the road.
The campaign to modify the standard temperature for storing and transporting frozen food has gained significant momentum with the support of two major UK trade bodies. The Cold Chain Federation (CCF) and the British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) have endorsed the initiative known as The Move to -15°C. The campaign’s objective is to raise the standard storage temperature for frozen food from -18°C to -15°C, a change that has been backed by recent studies indicating that this adjustment can maintain food safety and quality while significantly reducing carbon emissions.
Historically, the -18°C standard has remained unchanged for nearly a century. However, advancements in technology, equipment, and processes used in temperature-controlled logistics have rendered the old standard outdated, as highlighted by Phil Pluck, CEO of CCF. He emphasised that the progress achieved in managing these logistics allows for positive changes without sacrificing the substantial benefits that frozen food provides to consumers and businesses. This initiative, therefore, aligns with a commitment to environmentally sustainable food delivery.
Similarly, Rupert Ashby, CEO of the BFFF, echoed these sentiments, recognising the longstanding benefits that frozen food offers, such as preserving nutritional value, enhancing product quality, and reducing food waste. He asserted the importance of the coalition in facilitating the industry’s continued delivery of these benefits while simultaneously achieving further reductions in carbon emissions. Both federations have been involved in research supporting this temperature revision, reflecting evidence-based decision-making.
Thomas Eskesen, the chairman of the Move to -15°C coalition, expressed his enthusiasm for the backing received from the BFFF and CCF, recognising their support as a pivotal development in the campaign. By uniting under the shared goal of redefining frozen food temperature standards, the coalition aims to realise significant environmental benefits, potentially saving up to 17.7 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. The collective effort is comparable to removing 3.8 million cars from the road each year, underscoring the profound impact of their collaborative pursuit.
The campaign underscores the power of collaboration between industry leaders to drive meaningful environmental change. It invites other stakeholders to engage in this critical effort to modernise and optimise frozen food supply chains, reflecting an evolution towards sustainability that is both necessary and achievable.
The coalition’s efforts signify a transformative step towards sustainable frozen food logistics, with potential global environmental benefits.
