ENERGY SAVING
True sustainability is within our grasp
Gary Thacker, director of national accounts at foodservice and food retailing equipment provider, Fri-Jado UK, examines the issue of environmental responsibility, what it means to OEMs and how Fri-Jado is following a sustainable business model.
W
ith its high dependence on refrigeration for the transportation, storage and display of perishable merchandise, the
food retailing sector is a significant consumer of energy. A report prepared with the support of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs found that “retail food outlets are responsible for around 3% of [the UK’s] total electrical energy consumption.” Up to 60% of retailers’ consumption may be attributed directly to refrigerated systems and displays. Clearly, there is a need and an obligation
for manufacturers to address the performance of refrigerated display equipment, supplied to retailers, to increase efficiency and reduce the demand for electricity. The fact that we are dealing with such vast numbers means that the potential for energy savings is significant, with the possibility of making a substantial difference in the challenge to mitigate global warming and climate change.
Energy saving technology In recent years, there have been some admirable energy saving initiatives, including glass doors, shelf edge technology and air flow management systems, which have been adopted to some degree by retailers. However, equipment manufacturers need to do more to deliver refrigerated displays which deliver significant improvements in performance for tangible reductions in energy consumption. In my opinion, this will necessitate a culture of re-engineering, rather than merely tinkering with existing product designs. Too many OEMs have regarded the ECA Energy
Efficiency Index thresholds as acceptable goals, rather than barriers to smash through. It will be interesting to see what effect the much- anticipated eco-design directive and associated energy labelling regulations for food retailing
38 January 2020
equipment will have on manufacturers. The scheme will provide greater transparency on the energy efficiency of equipment and allow end users to make better informed specification decisions.
Sustainability – the bigger picture Whilst energy consumption is the headline item on the sustainability agenda, there are other factors, which influence the environmental impact of refrigeration equipment. True sustainability does not just depend on equipment’s energy consumption during its lifetime, but the environmental impact of its design, the processes in its manufacture, refrigerants employed, raw materials used, operational longevity and recyclability at the end of its life cycle. These all offer potential for environmental impact, which responsible manufacturers need to address when designing, developing new refrigeration equipment. We also have to consider the subject of food waste as part of the sustainability debate. Efficiency of refrigeration equipment, including accurate and stable holding temperatures, is essential in maintaining the safety, quality and appearance of food, for less waste. The issue of food waste has been championed through a range of campaigns, not least via Waste and Resources Action Programme’s (WRAP) ‘Love Food Hate Waste’ initiative. WRAP has estimated that the retail sector accounted for up to 250,000 tonnes of food waste in 2016. There are various reasons for food waste in the cold chain, but a proportion of this food waste may have been avoided had merchandise been displayed at tighter temperature bands.
What is Fri-Jado contributing to sustainability? Sustainability begins at home and we have used the recent relocation of our head office and production plant as an opportunity to reinforce our green
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