Page 47 - FoodFocusThailand No.238 January-February 2026

SUSTAINABILITY DRIVEN

the development of effective energy management techniques performance 5–10 times more effective than conventional
for refrigeration systems, which remains a major obstacle polyurethane foam insulation.
to the commercial deployment of both technologies as 2) Smart refrigeration systems designed to manage
replacements for petroleum-based fuels. defrost cycles and predict temperature fluctuations, allowing
Cryogenic cooling is a technology that utilizes the system to operate more efficiently. These systems are
ultra-low temperatures from liquefied gases, such as used in conjunction with variable-speed compressors,
liquid nitrogen (LN ) or liquid carbon dioxide (liquid which adjust compressor speed in response to the required
2
CO ), for refrigeration instead of conventional compressor- temperature. This approach significantly reduces energy
2
based cooling systems that use chemical refrigerants. The consumption compared with traditional compressors that
principle is as follows: when liquid nitrogen (at a temperature operate using simple on–off control.
of -196 °C) is released into the cargo compartment, 3) Development of container door structures. Modern
it evaporates into gas and absorbs heat, causing the containers have been equipped with improved sealing
temperature inside the compartment to decrease rapidly. systems and more robust door structures to enhance
This process produces no carbon dioxide emissions and airtightness. This helps prevent heat and cold from
operates almost silently. However, the main challenges transferring between the interior and exterior of the container.
of this technology are the cost of liquid nitrogen and the As a result, replacing older container models with newer ones
limited availability of liquid nitrogen refueling stations, which can reduce energy consumption by approximately 20–40%,
are not as widespread as conventional fuel stations. As a thereby reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
result, it is generally restricted to fixed routes where refueling Although the cold chain is an essential infrastructure for
infrastructure is available. the food and pharmaceutical industries, it is also associated
Phase Change Materials (PCMs) are special with high energy consumption and significant greenhouse
substances that can absorb and release large gas emissions. Therefore, modern technologies play a
amounts of thermal energy at a constant temperature crucial role in achieving tangible reductions in carbon dioxide
during phase transitions between solid and liquid states, or emissions. While some technologies still face cost-related
vice versa. They can therefore be considered as “thermal” or limitations, integrating technologies and selecting them
“cold batteries” that are reusable. The principle is that PCM appropriately based on transportation contexts and cargo
panels are first frozen, like storing cold energy, until they types will be a key step toward achieving the cold chain’s
solidify. They are then installed inside containers or transport long-term sustainability.
boxes. As the material gradually melts, it absorbs heat
from its surroundings and helps maintain a stable internal
temperature for extended periods, ranging from several
hours to several days, without requiring electrical power. More Information Service Info C006
However, due to the high cost of materials and packaging
used to encapsulate PCMs, as well as durability limitations
under repeated use, this technology is primarily applied in
high-value, specialized industries such as pharmaceutical
and vaccine transportation and the electronics industry. เอกสารอ้างอิง / References
1
High-efficiency container technology refers to the Wang, K., & Du, N. (2025). Real-time monitoring and energy
enhancement of freight containers, particularly reefer consumption management strategy of cold chain logistics based
containers, with the primary objective of minimizing on the internet of things. Energy Informatics, 8(1), 34.
energy consumption. At present, innovations in this area 2 Flammini, A., Adzmir, H., Pattison, R., Karl, K., Allouche, Y., &
focus on three key aspects: Tubiello, F. N. (2024). Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Cold Chains
1) Materials science innovations aimed at improving in Agrifood Systems. Sustainability, 16(21), 9184.
the thermal performance of container structures. These
include vacuum insulated panels (VIPs), which function
similarly to vacuum flasks and provide thermal insulation

JAN-FEB 2026 FOOD FOCUS THAILAND 47

12/1/2569 BE 13:05
44-47_Sustainabili_�����.indd 47 12/1/2569 BE 13:05
44-47_Sustainabili_�����.indd 47