Freight News, Logistics, Rail, Road, Sea

Eskesen to chair temperature campaign group

[ March 5, 2024   //   Chris Lewis ]

The Join the Move to –15°C Coalition, which campaigns to reset frozen food temperature standards to reduce greenhouse gases has appointed refrigerated cargo expert, Thomas Eskesen, as chair.

The Coalition, which was initiated by DP World in 2023, is an industry-wide alliance that aims to redefine frozen food temperature standards to reduce emissions, cut supply chain costs and secure food resources for the world’s growing population.     

Eskesen brings over 35 years of including several leadership positions at Maersk, including a decade as vice president, head of reefer and special cargo.

In 2015, he founded Eskesen Advisory, which specialises in the challenges and opportunities within refrigerated cargo. He is also chairman of the TPM Cold Chain conference. 

The Coalition adds that five more industry leaders have also pledged their support for a move to -15°C. Its latest members include Americold, Holt Logistics and JB Hunt.

Existing members include US-based AJC Group, Maersk, Daikin of Japan, the Global Cold Chain Alliance; Kuehne + Nagel International, MSC), Lineage, Hapag Lloyd and Ocean Network Express (ONE).

Thomas Eskesen said: “Frozen food standards have not been updated in almost a century, so they are long overdue for revision. It has been proven that a small temperature increase could have huge benefits, so the Coalition’s aim is to act as a conduit by bringing industry together to change what’s possible as the sector looks for viable ways to achieve its shared net zero ambition.”

The Coalition was established following the launch of the Three Degrees of Change report, an academic report supported by DP World and delivered by experts from the Paris-based International Institute of Refrigeration, the University of Birmingham and London South Bank University.  

Most frozen food is transported and stored at -18°C, a standard set 93 years ago and has not changed since.  The report found that a move to -15°C could make a significant environmental impact with no compromise on food safety. It could alsosave 17.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, cut costs in the supply chain by at least 5% and in some areas by up to 12%.