Chapter 07 · Materials & footprintsCircular Economy & Materials
Cold Chain
Definition
The cold chain is the integrated system of refrigerated production, storage, transport and retail that keeps perishable goods within safe temperature ranges. UNEP and FAO estimate that around 14% of food is lost for want of effective cold chains, with food loss and waste overall generating roughly 4.4 gigatonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions.
References
UNEP–FAO 2022 assessment; food-loss share and emissions; NCAPs and Cool Coalition
Overview
What it means
Weak cold chains convert into food loss, hunger, vaccine spoilage and unnecessary emissions simultaneously.
How it is used
National Cooling Action Plans — pioneered in India, Indonesia and Ghana — and the Cool Coalition coordinate efficient, low-refrigerant-impact cold chain expansion.
Why it matters
Expanding sustainable cold chains is one of the few interventions that cuts food loss, emissions and energy demand together.