Emirates joined the move to -15SC Global Alliance, ensuring its position as the first airline to lend its expertise to this initiative. As a global leader in the transport of perishable goods, Emirates will bring its wealth of knowledge and experience in handling and freight forwarding to the practical application of this potentially industry-changing initiative.
First launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) hosted by the UAE, the transition to -15SThe C Alliance aims to redefine frozen food temperature standards and reduce energy consumption in the frozen food supply chain. The working hypothesis is that a three-degree change in temperature could create a significant environmental impact without compromising food quality and safety. By bringing together partners from across industries, the alliance will explore the real-world implementation of this research through data sharing, proposed operational reviews, and collaboration with members and stakeholders, as well as engaging with policymakers and regulators to educate and advocate.
Perishables represent Emirates Air Cargo’s largest business unit in terms of tonnage, with between 900 and 1,000 tons of fresh food traveling around the world on Emirates flights daily. While frozen foods may represent a small percentage, the airline has built an outstanding cold chain infrastructure, employed proprietary innovations and established strong working relationships across the supply chain that will provide key insight when reimagining the frozen food supply chain.
Dennis Lister, Senior Vice President Product and Innovation at Emirates SkyCargo, said: “We have long been a leader in the perishable food movement, connecting the global agricultural community to its customers around the world and offering them fresh produce you can taste. Move to -15SThe C Alliance is a forward-looking concept, bringing together like-minded partners to advance the industry in line with current developments in technology, equipment, facilities, packaging and more. We are excited to bring our vision and expertise to help shape the next phase of food logistics while making a beneficial environmental impact.
Thomas Eskesen, President of the Action Towards -15°C Alliance, said: “We are pleased 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 represents a major step forward for us.
“Ambitious climate action across the complex frozen food supply chain – which includes food production, ports, shipping, road freight, rail, air freight, cold storage and retail – can only happen through cross-sector collaboration. By joining forces To the alliance, Emirates proves that change is possible by uniting the forces of industries.
The ‘Moving to -15°C’ coalition was established in 2023, following the launch of the ‘Three Degrees of Change’ report, academic research supported by global logistics company, DP World, and presented by experts from the Paris-based International Institute of Refrigeration. University of Birmingham, London South Bank University, and others.
Emirates focuses on sustainable and environmental initiatives that deliver impact, both in its own operations and across the industry. Recognizing that no entity can achieve far-reaching results alone, a key part of the company’s strategy is to find solutions to its biggest challenges in partnership with the broader industry. Plus go to -15SC, Emirates is also an industry partner of the Aviation Impact Accelerator (AIA), representing the first tranche of the airline’s US$200 million Sustainability Fund, dedicated to research and development projects focused on reducing the fossil fuel impact of commercial aviation. Emirates has also joined the Solent Group in the UK, a multi-sector collaboration aimed at reducing carbon dioxide2 Emissions and low carbon fuel production.
