Cold Chain Climate Summit 2025: How We Drive Sustainable Innovation in Temperature-Controlled Transport

The Cold Chain Federation's Climate Summit returns to the University of Warwick this March, marking its third year as the UK's leading forum for sustainable temperature-controlled logistics. The summit brings together fleet operators, manufacturers, and industry leaders to tackle pressing challenges in emissions reduction, climate resilience, and industry leadership.

This year's summit features a comprehensive agenda addressing key industry challenges. Professor Graeme Maidment, Cooling Lead at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, will deliver insights into the UK Government's approach to sustainable cooling and energy efficiency.

Climate resilience takes centre stage with new research from the Environment Agency on flood risks to the UK cold chain. With 1 in 6 buildings vulnerable to flooding and significant transport infrastructure at risk, this event will provides essential guidance for operators planning long-term sustainability strategies.

The Impact of Climate Change on the Cold Chain

The summit also addresses growing concerns about the impact of rising temperatures on cold chain operations. Nick Pyatt from Climate Sense will present findings from the Climate Change Committee highlighting the challenges operators face during increasingly hot summers. These insights help businesses adapt their operations and infrastructure to maintain efficiency in changing conditions.

As headline sponsors of the 2025 summit, Sunswap brings practical experience in zero-emission transport refrigeration. Our British-engineered Endurance units are now operational with leading fleet operators across the UK, delivering measurable reductions in both emissions and operating costs.

Following our Technology Breakthrough Award win at last year's summit, we look forward to sharing real-world performance data from recent deployments. These insights demonstrate how battery and solar-powered transport refrigeration can help operators meet sustainability targets while maintaining operational efficiency.

The Business Case for Sustainable Transport Refrigeration

For fleet operators attending the summit, several key themes emerge:

• Operational Efficiency: Zero-emission transport refrigeration units now match or exceed the performance of diesel systems while significantly reducing operating costs.
• Future-Proofing Operations: With demand for sustainable delivery options, early adopters of sustainable technology gain competitive advantages.
• Practical Implementation: Real-world deployment data shows how electric refrigeration integrates seamlessly with existing fleet operations.
• Cost Analysis: Understanding the total cost of ownership and operational savings helps operators plan their transition to sustainable technology.

The summit provides multiple opportunities for knowledge exchange through panel discussions and networking sessions. Industry leaders will share experiences in implementing sustainable practices, while technical experts offer insights into emerging technologies and best practices.

The Cold Chain Federation's outlined an industry goal to end the sale of new diesel truck refrigeration units (TRUs) by 2030. The Climate Summit represents an important moment for the temperature-controlled transport industry. As operators face growing pressure to reduce emissions while maintaining operational efficiency, events like this provide essential guidance and practical solutions.

The Cold Chain Climate Summit takes place on March 20th, 2025, at the University of Warwick. Whether you're exploring sustainable transport refrigeration options, planning fleet electrification strategies, or seeking to understand the latest developments in cold chain sustainability, the summit offers valuable insights for operators at every stage of their sustainability journey. Find out more here.

Contact us to learn more about Sunswap's zero-emission transport refrigeration technology or to arrange a meeting at the summit.