Mexico. Sustainability in refrigerated logistics does not depend solely on the incorporation of renewable energies or the reduction of emissions. Efficiency in temperature control is key to reducing environmental impact, minimizing losses and optimizing the cold chain.
According to Kryotec, a company specializing in cold chain solutions, each temperature deviation represents much more than an operational failure. In addition to putting the quality of products such as medicines, vaccines or perishable foods at risk, these incidents generate waste of resources, increase energy consumption and force replacements, rework and new transfers, increasing the environmental footprint of the entire operation.
"Sustainability and thermal efficiency are two sides of the same coin. The more precise and efficient the temperature control, the lower the operational losses and the environmental impact of the entire supply chain," said Carlos Humberto Infante y Loya, founder and chairman of the Board of Directors of Kryotec.
A challenge with global impact
The challenge becomes even more relevant in a context in which companies seek to meet their commitments to reduce emissions and ESG objectives, while the demand for products that require strict conservation conditions increases.
According to research from the Center for Sustainable Systems at the University of Michigan, poor cold chain infrastructure could lead to the loss of up to 620 million metric tons of food annually, generating approximately 1.8 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.
The study also notes that in economies with less industrial development, more than 40% of food losses occur early in the supply chain, mainly due to logistical deficiencies and lack of thermal control.
For Kryotec, the transformation towards more sustainable refrigerated logistics involves optimising the thermal efficiency of operations, rather than oversizing processes. The company maintains that preserving a product avoids the waste of all the resources and emissions associated with its manufacture, storage and distribution.
In this sense, the company recommends adopting comprehensive cold chain management models that allow temperature deviations to be anticipated through real-time monitoring, data analysis and traceability throughout the logistics process.
These strategies include infrastructure evaluation, thermal mapping, volumetric studies, validation of reusable packaging, operational training and audit support, in addition to configuring solutions adapted to variables such as routes, transit times, seasonality and specific characteristics of each product.
Likewise, tools such as IoT sensors and continuous monitoring platforms allow each shipment to be optimized, strengthen thermal stability and reduce unnecessary consumption of materials, energy and fuel.
For the company, in an environment marked by greater regulatory, environmental and profitability requirements, maintaining a stable and efficient cold chain will cease to be a differentiating element and will become an essential requirement for sustainability and operational continuity.
