Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, is the first airline to join the international Move to -15°C alliance. As a global leader in the transport of perishable goods, Emirates is leveraging its expertise in freight management and shipping to make an active contribution to the innovative initiative. The ‘Move to -15°C’ alliance, first unveiled at COP28 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), aims to redefine frozen food temperature standards and reduce energy consumption in the supply chain. The basic ideology of the initiative focuses on the fact that a three-degree temperature reduction can have a significant environmental impact without affecting food quality and safety. Bringing together interested partners from different sectors, the alliance aims to put this study into practice through data sharing, modifications to business processes, collaboration with members and stakeholders, and with policy makers and regulators to educate and support the initiative.
Perishables occupy the largest capacity on Emirates’ cargo flights, carrying between 900 and 1,000 tonnes of fresh food every day. Although frozen food represents a smaller proportion of this activity, the airline has built an excellent cold chain infrastructure, adopting innovative applications and maintaining strong partnerships across the supply chain, providing useful insights to redesign the frozen food supply chain.
Dennis Lister, Senior Vice President of Product and Innovation at Emirates SkyCargo, said: “As a leading airline in perishable food transportation, we are connecting the agricultural community with customers worldwide, giving them the opportunity to taste fresh produce. The Move to -15oC alliance is an innovative initiative that brings together partners with shared values to advance the industry in line with modern advances in technology, equipment, facilities, packaging and more. We are delighted to be able to share our experience and expertise, helping to shape the next phase of the food supply chain and achieve substantial environmental impact.”
Thomas Eskesen, Chairman of the Move to -15oC Alliance, said:
“We are thrilled to welcome Emirates to our alliance. The aviation industry plays a vital role in the global cold chain, and having a leading airline like Emirates on board is a significant step for us. Ambitious climate action in the frozen food supply chain – which includes food production, ports, shipping, road, rail and air transport, cold storage and retail – can only be achieved through collaboration between different sectors. By joining the Alliance, Emirates is demonstrating that change is possible when there is meaningful collaboration between businesses.”
The Move to -15oC Alliance was established in 2023, following the launch of the Three Degrees of Change report, an academic study supported by international logistics company DP World, among others, and presented by experts from the International Refrigeration Institute in Paris, the University of Birmingham and London South Bank University.
Emirates continues to support initiatives that create a positive impact on the environment and promote sustainability across the industry. Recognising that no single entity can achieve long-term results alone, the airline’s strategy includes seeking solutions to the challenges of climate change.
In addition to the Move to -15oC alliance, Emirates is also supporting the Aviation Impact Accelerator (AIA), the first project funded by the $200 million European Sustainability Fund, which aims to decarbonise fossil fuels. Emirates is also a member of The Solent Cluster, a cross-industry collaboration in the UK that aims to reduce CO2 emissions and produce low-emission fuels.
