Page 13 - Indian Transport & Logistics News July - August 2024 Issue for Website

ndia's cold chain logistics sector Even within temperature-controlled
is undergoing a significant environments, inadequate packaging
transformation, grappling can result in damaged goods, leading
Iwith the dual challenges of to waste and financial losses. Effective
meeting growing demand and packaging design must consider
embracing sustainability. With a various factors, including heat
growing population and increasing transmission from products through
urbanisation, the need for efficient and the package, carton, and pallet
environmentally friendly cold chain stack. Optimising these elements
solutions has never been more critical. is crucial for maintaining product
According to a report by Mordor integrity throughout the supply chain.
Intelligence, India’s cold chain logistics Addressing the issue, Jalan of Indicold
market is expected to reach $11.64 Logistics stated, “Waste reduction is
billion in 2024 and grow to $18.19 crucial too. We're recycling packaging
billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of The industry is poised materials and managing our inventory
9.72% during the forecast period. This for a more substantial better to minimise food waste. This
growth is driven by increasing demand transformation in the not only helps the environment but
for perishable products, government also improves our efficiency.”
initiatives, and rising organised retail coming years with the Addressing the financial challenges
and quick-service restaurants. introduction of battery- in adopting sustainable technologies
However, the sector faces significant operated Medium in cold chain logistics, Manju Korah,
challenges. Cold storage facilities Commercial Vehicles Vice President - Operations, Snowman
are energy-intensive, contributing to (MCVs) and Heavy Logistics mentioned, "The initial
high operational costs and substantial investment costs associated with
Commercial Vehicles implementing sustainable technologies
(HCVs). such as hybrid vehicles, Phase
Change Material (PCM) technology,
Sanjay Sharma and renewable energy sources are
Coldman Logistics
substantial. Overcoming these upfront
costs while demonstrating long-term
carbon footprints. Despite growth benefits in operational efficiency
in the cold chain sector, India still and reduced environmental footprint
experiences significant food waste, remains a critical challenge for us."
with the Food and Agriculture To address some of these
Organisation (FAO) estimating that challenges, many cold chain
about 40% of India's fresh produce is companies are turning to renewable
wasted annually due to inadequate cold energy sources like solar power to
chain infrastructure. The market is reduce their carbon footprint and
also highly fragmented, with numerous operational costs. Snowman Logistics,
small-scale players, making it one of India's largest cold chain
challenging to implement standardised companies, has implemented solar
sustainable practices. panels at several of its facilities,
Kartik Jalan, founder & CEO, reducing energy costs by up to 30%.
Indicold Logistics, emphasised the Bootes, a net-zero construction
complexities of operating within a company, and CargoPeople, an
rapidly evolving regulatory landscape Indian multimodal logistics company,
and the need for specialised skills in have collaborated to launch net-
the workforce. He stated, “Navigating zero cold storage to address critical
various regulations and training staff food waste challenges. Coldman
with specialised expertise can be time- Logistics has integrated solar power
consuming, while justifying immediate into 40% of its facilities, with plans
costs to stakeholders is difficult.” to transition all its operations to
Another significant challenge in solar power by the end of 2026. “This
the cold chain sector is the impact proactive approach has resulted in
of poorly designed packaging. a substantial reduction of over 5000
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