“Green Cold Chain” refers to the development and management of temperature-controlled logistics systems (such as cold storage, refrigerated transport, and distribution) with the goal of minimizing environmental impacts while ensuring the integrity and reliability of temperature-sensitive products (e.g., vaccines, biologics, perishable food).
This approach focuses on:
Reducing energy consumption in refrigerated transport and storage facilities.
Using low-GWP and natural refrigerants to minimize environmental damage.
Integrating renewable energy sources such as solar and hybrid systems.
Implementing IoT, data analytics, and smart monitoring to reduce waste and energy use.
Performing lifecycle sustainability assessments to account for carbon emissions, cost, and energy use throughout the supply chain.
Why is it gaining attention?
Growing pressure to reduce carbon emissions and adopt sustainable practices.
Public health demands for reliable vaccine and pharmaceutical distribution.
Technological advancements in solar, energy storage, and smart monitoring systems.
Global commitments to climate targets and regulatory restrictions on high-GWP refrigerants.
Interdisciplinary funding opportunities linking sustainability with health and food security.
Key Components / Areas for Intervention
Refrigeration technologies – improving efficiency in transport refrigeration units and cold storage.
Refrigerants – shifting from synthetic to natural/low-GWP refrigerants.
Renewable energy integration – solar-powered cold rooms and hybrid systems.
Thermal insulation and passive cooling – reducing active energy use.
Monitoring and control – IoT sensors, predictive maintenance, and route optimization.
Logistics and supply chain design – strategic network planning and demand forecasting.
Lifecycle assessment – evaluating environmental and economic impacts.
Current and Emerging Research Areas in Green Cold Chain Technology
Research Area
Description / Focus
Examples of Application
Solar-powered and off-grid cold storage
Design of PV-powered cold rooms and transport units for rural and last-mile delivery.
Rural vaccine cold chains, solar micro cold storage for perishable goods.
Natural refrigerants
Replacing synthetic refrigerants with CO₂, ammonia, hydrocarbons for lower GWP.
Industrial cold storage using CO₂ and ammonia systems.
Advanced refrigeration system design
Improving energy efficiency with cascade systems, hybrid cycles, and better controls.
Ultra-low temperature storage systems for vaccines and food.
Logistics and routing optimization
Planning low-carbon cold chain networks with emission reduction strategies.
Green route planning for refrigerated trucks.
IoT and smart monitoring
Real-time temperature tracking, predictive maintenance, blockchain traceability.
Vaccine transport monitoring with IoT sensors.
Lifecycle assessment and carbon accounting
Comparing energy use, emissions, and costs of green vs conventional systems.
Carbon footprint analysis of cold chain distribution networks.
Ultra-low temperature storage
Efficient solutions for products requiring temperatures below -70 °C.
Cold chain systems for mRNA vaccines.
Thermal energy storage
Use of phase change materials (PCMs) and insulation to reduce energy consumption.
Passive cooling containers for medical supplies.
Key Journals for Publishing on Green Cold Chain Technology
Open Access Journals
Journal Name
Access Type
Relevance
Logistics (MDPI)
Open Access
Focus on logistics and cold chain sustainability, energy efficiency, and routing.
Sustainability (MDPI)
Open Access
Covers green logistics, renewable energy, and sustainable cold chain systems.
Energies (MDPI)
Open Access
Strong focus on energy efficiency, hybrid systems, and low-carbon refrigeration.
Hybrid Journals
Journal Name
Access Type
Relevance
International Journal of Refrigeration
Hybrid
Core journal in refrigeration engineering and cold chain technology.
International Journal of Low-Carbon Technologies
Hybrid
Covers energy-saving technologies, green refrigeration, and emission reductions.
Journal of Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems
Hybrid
Focus on integrated sustainability approaches, including cold chain systems.
Subscription / Hybrid Logistics & Transport Journals
Journal Name
Access Type
Relevance
Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment
Hybrid
Covers environmental impacts of transportation, including refrigerated transport.
Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review
Hybrid
Focus on supply chain and logistics optimization for sustainability.
International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management
Hybrid
Broad logistics scope, including cold chain operations and green logistics.
International Journal of Operations & Production Management
Hybrid
Covers logistics, supply chain optimization, and sustainable distribution.
