Top Four Cold Chain Growth Drivers in 2023

CRANFORD, N.J. - Feb. 6, 2023 - PRLog -- While a fluid cold chain is critical to feeding the world's population, cold chain fluidity does not "just happen" – it relies on investment and innovation. Greg Tuthill, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of SeaCube Containers (https://seacubecontainers.com/overview/leadership/), a global leader in intermodal refrigerated equipment leasing, looks closely at the top four cold chain growth drivers.

Food Waste Mitigation

Nearly 40 percent of food produced in the world is lost, with 7 to 15 percent spoiling during transport. Lost containers contribute to the problem; however, a more significant and preventable problem is related to the container temperature or poorly packed containers. This is especially true for fruits and vegetables, which are especially vulnerable because they are loaded onto containers in corrugated boxes, which offer no protection from spoilage.

While today's refrigerated equipment provides superior cold storage, arming reefer fleets with telematics technology (https://seacubecontainers.com/sustainability-solutions/) allows for greater collaboration, increased transparency, and real-time data, which provides accurate information on the exact location of the container, which is necessary for proper planning.

Food Outsourcing

As the world's population continues to grow, so does the need to move food safely and swiftly throughout the world. The transport journey for this temperature-controlled food can be long and there is the risk of contamination and damage every step of the way. This elevates the need for state-of-the-art refrigerated equipment (https://seacubecontainers.com/cold-chain-solutions/) that includes telematics to ensure the cargo is handled properly throughout the entire journey.

Decarbonization

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) as a refrigerant is used more because of its zero depleting characteristics and its global warming potential of one. CO2 as a natural refrigerant is one of the most environmentally sustainable alternatives for refrigerated marine transport.

Other considerations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions include variable speed drives for compressors and two-speed evaporator fans, which offer energy efficiency and can elevate even the most optimal operation linked to an energy-efficient fleet. Acting now to limit the damage from climate change is often smarter—and costs less in the long run—than acting later.

Technology and Connecting End-to-End

Technology will be used to map the entire end-to-end supply chain more accurately– from the direct supplier to the second-tier supplier and beyond. "Smart" containers are equipped with telematics that provide real-time tracking and monitoring. This enables customers to plan their inventory and production accordingly and operators to increase turn-time and improve equipment availability.

These containers provide real-time visibility of its location and contents. Telematics also provide preventive measures using algorithms that recognize failures before they happen, notification of erratic driver behavior, potential theft, and safety issues.