Emirates has joined the Move to -15oC global coalition, becoming the first airline to join the initiative.
As a major player in transporting perishables, Emirates said it will apply its extensive knowledge and experience in handling and shipping to this potentially industry-changing initiative.
First launched at COP28, which was hosted in the UAE, the Move to -15oC coalition aims to redefine frozen food temperature standards and reduce energy consumption in the frozen food supply chain.
The working hypothesis suggests that a three-degree change in temperature could have a significant environmental impact without compromising food quality and safety.
The coalition will collaborate with partners from various industries to examine the practical application of this research through data sharing, operational revisions, collaboration with members and stakeholders, and engagement with policymakers and regulators.
Perishables represent Emirates SkyCargo's largest business unit by tonnage, with 900 to 1,000 tonnes of fresh food travelling around the world on Emirates flights every day.
"We have long been leaders in the movement of perishable food, connecting the global agricultural community with their customers across the globe and delivering freshness you can taste. The Move to -15oC coalition is a future-looking concept, bringing together like-minded partners to evolve the industry in line with current advancements in technology, equipment, facilities, packaging and more," said Dennis Lister, senior vice president of Product and Innovation, Emirates SkyCargo.
"We are excited to offer our insight and expertise to help shape the next phase of food logistics while driving meaningful environmental impact," he added.
Thomas Eskesen, chairman of the Move to -15°C Coalition, noted that Emirates plays a vital role in the global cold chain, and having the airline on board represents a key step forward.
''Ambitious climate action across the complex frozen food supply chain – which includes food production, ports, shipping, road, rail and air freight, cold storage and retail – can only happen through cross-sector collaboration. By joining the Coalition, Emirates is demonstrating that change is possible through industries joining forces," he said.
The Move to -15°C coalition was established in 2023, following the launch of the Three Degrees of Change report, an academic paper supported by global logistics firm DP World and delivered by experts from the Paris-based International Institute of Refrigeration, the University of Birmingham, and London South Bank University, among others.
Meanwhile, a key part of the airline's sustainable strategy is to find solutions to the biggest challenges in partnership with the wider industry. In addition to the Move to -15oC coalition, Emirates is also an industrial partner of Aviation Impact Accelerator (AIA), marking the first disbursement from the airline's US$200 million Sustainability Fund, dedicated to research and development projects focussed on reducing the impact of fossil fuels in commercial aviation.
Emirates also joined The Solent Cluster in the UK, a cross-sector collaboration aimed at reducing CO2 emissions and producing low-carbon fuels.