24 June 2021
|
The Cold Chain Federation is the only trade association dedicated to the UK’s temperature-controlled logistics industry. Tom Southall, policy director, explains what services are available to members.
The Cold Chain Federation can trace its history back to its formation in 1911. It currently has approximately 150 members that consist of businesses across the cold chain, including those involved in farming, manufacture, third-party logistics, foodservice and retail. Our members operate approximately 500 cold stores and 30,000 temperature-controlled vehicles across the UK.
The cold chain is critical to the UK economy, safeguarding the nation’s chilled and frozen supply chain and maintaining the security, quality and availability of food, pharmaceuticals, and other produce. Together with its members, the CFF represent a powerful voice to policymakers on issues affecting the cold chain, such as Brexit, supply chain disruption, air quality emissions from refrigerated transport and perhaps the most existential risk facing our future - net zero.
The Net Zero Project
The cold chain must continue to grow to meet the demands of society whilst also rising to the challenge of decarbonising and eliminating harmful air quality emissions from our buildings and vehicles. This is a challenge that can only be overcome by working across the supply chain to identify and implement policies and investments to bring about real change. Last year CCF launched the ‘Net Zero Project’ – a long-term commitment to support our members in adjusting to expected challenges on the cold chain from the Government’s pledge to have a net zero economy by 2050. Further publications expected in 2021 include roadmaps for how the industry can decarbonise our temperature-controlled buildings and vehicles.
Member Benefits
The Cold Chain Federation also offers a suite of other benefits to members, including:
- Cold Chain Compliance – Our range of definitive ‘assured advice’ is the only place to get guidance focusing solely on the specific key Health and Safety and Food Safety risks involved with operating in the cold.
- Cold Chain Connect – A regular, free-to-access webinar-based learning resource covering a range of regulatory, technology and industry topics.
- Cold Chain Energy – Advice to help businesses manage energy more effectively, including achieving energy efficiency as part of their Climate Change Agreement target, which the Federation administers. Support includes our Energy Efficiency in Cold Stores Guide, specialised events and data support to help businesses understand their progress.
- Cold Chain Insight – Information on the latest in cold chain academic research, industry surveys and publications produced in collaboration with selected partners.
- Events – The CCF organise business events, including conferences, socials like our golf day and Expert Groups for members to come together and share expertise on issues such as compliance, warehousing and operating temperature-controlled fleets.
Putting forward opinion
The Cold Chain Federation is a proud member of ACRIB, which provides a professional forum to contribute and learn from other members on technical refrigeration matters such as the F-Gas phase out, building standards for cold stores, improving skills and qualifications in the RACHP industry and discuss other, often complex, refrigeration compliance issues. This, in turn, allows us to provide a better service to our members on these topics and support ACRIB by giving a view from the cold chain industry.
To find out more about the Cold Chain Federation click here or contact membership director Sharon Mughal.
- The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Board (ACRIB) is a central forum for trade associations and professional bodies from all sectors and interests in or served by the RACHP industry. Established for over 20 years, ACRIB is involved in supporting the UK Government in implementing F-Gas legislation, providing a balanced input to policymakers and legislators and responding to legislative consultations and meeting with Government representatives while offering technical advice and industry guidance on good practice. To find out more about the member organisations and the work of ACRIB, click here.
