The Join the Move to –15°C Coalition has today announced the appointment of the world’s leading refrigerated cargo expert, Thomas Eskesen, to the position of Chair. The appointment comes as the Coalition continues to bolster its member base, with five new industry leaders pledging their support for a move to -15°C.
The Coalition, which was initiated by global logistics firm DP World in 2023, is an industry-wide alliance that aims to redefine frozen food temperature standards to reduce emissions, cut supply chain costs and secure food resources for the world’s growing population.
Eskesen brings with him over 35 years of experience and a proven international track record, having held several leadership positions at Maersk, including a decade as Vice President, Head of Reefer and Special Cargo. In this role he was responsible for setting strategic direction, asset planning, product development and innovation.
In 2015, he founded Eskesen Advisory, which specialises in advising executives on their unique challenges and opportunities within refrigerated cargo. Here, he has spent the last decade sharing his extensive experience in reefer products and services, strategic planning, and reefer innovation to key players in refrigerated transport and executives seeking a fresh perspective on their business model and strategy. Eskesen also holds the position of Chairman for the TPM Cold Chain conference.
To date, the Coalition has secured support from a significant portion of the world’s shipping market. Its newest members include Americold, a global leader in temperature-controlled logistics, Holt Logistics, a leading freight transportation and logistics service provider, and JB Hunt, a U.S. transport and logistics company.
Other members who have already pledged support to the Coalition’s mission include leading industry organizations, such as U.S. based AJC Group, A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) of Denmark; Daikin of Japan; DP World of UAE; the Global Cold Chain Alliance; Switzerland’s Kuehne + Nagel International and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), U.S. based Lineage, Germany’s Hapag Lloyd; Singapore-based Ocean Network Express (ONE).
On Wednesday 6th March, the Coalition will host its first in-person open member meeting at this year’s S&P Global Premier Shipping and Supply Chain Conference, TPM24, in Long Beach, California, where members will come together to collaborate and discuss how to work towards its goal of achieving a move to -15°C.
Thomas Eskesen, Chair of Join The Move to -15˚C, said: “The aim of the Coalition is simple: to create an international alliance of committed partners that will transform the global logistics landscape, cut carbon emissions, save energy, and lower costs by changing the temperature that frozen food is stored and transported at.
“Frozen food standards have not been updated in almost a century, so they are long overdue for revision. It has been proven that a small temperature increase could have huge benefits, so the Coalition’s aim is to act as a conduit by bringing industry together to change what’s possible as the sector looks for viable ways to achieve its shared net zero ambition.
“We’re in the very early days of the Coalition’s establishment so it’s great to see such vested interest from key industry players, and we offer a warm welcome to our new Coalition members. We’re looking forward to a productive first meeting at TPM24, where will discuss key priorities and set the direction and vision for the year ahead.”
The Join the Move to -15°C Coalition was established following the launch of the Three Degrees of Change report, an academic report supported by DP World and delivered by experts from the Paris-based International Institute of Refrigeration, the University of Birmingham, and London South Bank University.
Most frozen food is transported and stored at -18°C, a standard that was set 93 years ago and has not changed since. The report found that a move to -15°C could make a significant environmental impact with no compromise on food safety. Furthermore, the report revealed that a 3-degree difference could save 17.7 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, the equivalent annual emissions of 3.8m cars. If achieved, this change could cut costs in the supply chain by at least 5% and in some areas by up to 12%.
To find out more or join the Coalition, please visit: Join The Move to -15°C Coalition
