Cold Chain to Grow Exponentially Over the Next Couple of Years

The cold chain is currently experiencing significant growth due to a few major factors over the last few years. Furthermore, it shows no signs of slowing down in the near future, quite the contrary.

But what has caused this massive boom throughout the industry? More importantly, what will this growth look like moving forward?

What is the Cold Chain?

The cold chain refers to the process of transporting temperature-sensitive goods. Whether this is from a production facility to a retail store or other final destination, if it is temperature-controlled, it is part of the "cold chain". This often involves the use of reefer trucks or porthole containers to keep the goods at a consistent temperature throughout transit.

Essentially, the cold supply chain deals with the movement of temperature-sensitive goods such as food, beverages, and pharmaceuticals among other items.

Cold Chain Projections

Experts in the field have recently posted some stunning predictions about the growth of the cold supply chain. Across the globe, temperature-controlled shipping could reach $583 billion by 2030.

This remarkable growth is due to a number of trends...

Temperature-sensitive Medications

When it comes to many vaccines and medications, temperature control plays a vital role.

The extreme cold required to maintain the COVID-19 vaccine was a particularly interesting logistical hurdle. Some of the vaccines had to be maintained at ultra-cold temperatures all the way from the production facility to the pharmacy or doctor’s office.

The cold chain proved to be an even more critical component of transport for these efforts to succeed. The effort made during this time showed the power of a resilient and coordinated supply chain.

Preference for Fresh Foods Creates More Business for the Cold Chain

Along with pharmaceutical methods of staying healthy, many people are also now attempting to optimize their diets. Generally, this consists of choosing whole, fresh foods.

As a result, there is now a much larger and consistently growing demand for temperature-controlled capacity. Nearly 25% of people are now eating more plant-based meats, and many more eating vegetable-based dishes. This means getting quality fruits and vegetables onto store shelves before they spoil has never been more important.

Technological Innovations Keep Moving the Cold Shipping Industry Forward Sustainably

Decades ago, it would have been unimaginable to have a global cold chain as sophisticated as the one we have today. But with technological improvements such as sensitive temperature monitors equipped on reefer trucks, problems can be dealt with as soon as they arise.

Leveraging technological advancements is perhaps the most effective way to overcome one of the biggest hurdles involved with the growth of the cold chain: environmental impact.

To keep goods at a certain temperature takes a great deal of energy. Considering that these goods must move from the production facility to the warehouse to the retail store, it adds up. The process releases a significant amount of CO2 into the atmosphere (roughly 1% of the total amount of CO2 released, by some estimates).

However, there are innovations and improvements taking place every day. These efforts all share the same goal of helping increase efficiency, decrease waste, and improve processes overall.