How raising freezer temperatures by 3 degrees could avoid millions of tons of emissions

A group of major companies is pushing to change how frozen food gets shipped and stored, which could touch the freezer setting in your own kitchen eventually. For about a century, the industry standard for frozen food has been -18 degrees Celsius (0 degrees Fahrenheit). A coalition called Move to -15 C argues that raising the temperature by 3 degrees, to -15 C, would not affect food safety, since bacteria stop growing well below that point, around -12 C. The group says the shift could cut 18 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions each year worldwide, since every 1 degree increase in freezer temperature cuts energy use by 1.5 to 3.5 percent.

The coalition, formed in 2023 and backed by companies including Maersk, IKEA, and DP World, recently added poultry producer Wayne-Sanderson Farms as a member. It is running pilot tests to prove the change is safe in practice, including one in the UK that tracked the actual temperature of prepared meals during transport, since freezer settings can fluctuate when doors open. Results so far have shown no drop in food safety or quality. A planned test will track chicken shipped from Asia to the UK.

The bigger obstacle isn't science but paperwork: -18 C is often written into supply contracts and regulations, so changing it takes coordination across producers, shippers, and retailers, not just a dial adjustment. This is industry-side change for now, but if it takes hold, it could eventually shift energy use and costs tied to frozen food supply chains that reach your grocery store.