Assessment of Energy Efficiency Measures in Food Cold Supply Chains: A Dairy Industry Case Study

Beatrice Marchi, Laura Bettoni and Simone Zanoni ()
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Beatrice Marchi: Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Via Branze 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Laura Bettoni: U.A.F.S. Supporto alla Commissione per la Sostenibilità, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Piazza del Mercato 15, 25121 Brescia, Italy
Simone Zanoni: Department of Civil, Environmental, Architectural Engineering and Mathematics, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Via Branze 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 19, 1-14

Abstract: The quality of human nutrition has acquired significant improvements thanks to the opportunity to store food in suitable temperature conditions. Refrigeration has allowed the slowing of chemical and biological degradation and hence the waste of foodstuff, but at the same time increases energy consumption. These effects impact the environment and the sustainability performance of the cold chain, and drive consumers’ choices. The stakeholders of the chain are, therefore, constantly looking for improvement actions to reduce environmental impacts. This paper aims to provide a methodology for prioritizing and assessing the energy efficiency measures for cold chains in terms of quality losses and specific energy consumption, distinguishing between technological, maintenance, and managerial opportunities. This analysis is based on the cold supply chain tool, developed under the H2020 project ICCEE (“Improving Cold Chain Energy Efficiency”) which focuses on a holistic approach, not looking only at the individual stages of the cold chain. Furthermore, an economic evaluation has been proposed considering cost savings and the investment needed.

Keywords: cold chains; refrigeration; energy efficiency; sustainability; food (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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