Page 16 - Logistics News - March_April 2023

C O LD C H A IN

Top four cold chain

growth drivers in 2023

Greg Tuthill, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of SeaCube Containers, a global
leader in intermodal refrigerated equipment leasing, looks closely at the top
four cold chain growth drivers.

takeholders throughout the supply chain waste by investing in technology that will
understand 2023 will not be like any other protect food during the transport journey.
Syear – and this is especially true for the cold
Greg Tuthill, CCO,
chain, both in terms of challenges and opportunities. While today’s refrigerated equipment
SeaCube Containers.
Offering reliability and predictability, the reefer market provides superior cold storage, arming
continues to grow and has proven to be more resilient reefer fleets with telematics technology
in the face of supply chain disruption as the movement allows for greater collaboration, increased transparency
of temperature-controlled cargo continues to be and real-time data, which provides accurate information
prioritised. on the exact location of the container, necessary for
proper planning. Telematics also provides insight into the
While a fluid cold chain is critical to feeding the world’s temperature, humidity and airflow inside the container,
population, cold chain fluidity does not ‘just happen’ – it which ensures the quality of the cargo is protected and waste
relies on investment and innovation. Ocean carriers looking is reduced.
to optimise their refrigerated equipment investment need a
strategic roadmap that addresses the ongoing economic and Food outsourcing
geopolitical challenges, food supply shortages, food waste As the world’s population continues to grow, so does the need
and refrigerated equipment capacity – all while working to to move food safely and swiftly throughout the world. This
reach sustainability goals. elevates the need for state-of-the-art refrigerated equipment
that includes telematics to ensure the cargo is handled
The top four cold chain growth drivers include food properly throughout the entire journey.
waste mitigation, food supply outsourcing, decarbonisation
goals and technology. The reefer market is expected to grow on average
five percent year over year through 2025 while
Food waste mitigation breakbulk containers demand will drop by 15 percent.
Nearly 40 percent of food produced in the world is lost, with The movement of fruits and vegetables will be the key
7-15 percent spoiling during transport. Lost containers driver in the temperature-controlled cargo market as
contribute to the problem; however, a more significant and consumers expect off-season perishables to be readily
preventable problem is related to the container temperature available all year long.
or poorly packed containers. This is especially true for fruits
and vegetables, which are particularly vulnerable because Decarbonisation
they are loaded onto containers in corrugated boxes, which In 2018, government imposed regulations that compel the
L O GI S T I CS NEWS be an even bigger problem in 2023 as experts predict food century. With aggressive sustainability goals, the shipping
shipping industry to reduce carbon emissions by half by mid-
offer no protection from spoilage.
industry is looking to make changes throughout the supply
Food waste has been a persistent issue and will prove to
chain and there are significant opportunities within the
reefer sector. Innovation and open-mindedness are the keys
supply shortages will continue to get worse throughout the
year. This elevates the need to take action to reduce food

14 M A RC H/A P R IL 2023 to reaching decarbonisation goals.
www .l o g ist i csn e w s .c o .z a