Green Reefer Alliance launched at UNFCCC COP28

The Kühne Foundation becomes a founding member of the Green Reefer Alliance to reduce emission and make international trade more sustainable.    
Approximately 2.5 million refrigerated maritime containers (reefers) are used for the international transport of chilled (e.g. fruit and medicines) and frozen products (e.g. meat and fish) across the oceans to billions of customers every day. The current reefer fleet uses refrigerants with high global warming impact, toxic “forever chemicals” and have a high energy demand. The use of natural refrigerants, better design and optimization of operations have the potential to significantly reduce the climate and environmental impact of this fast-growing sector.

At the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference in the United Arab Emirates (COP28) Kühne Foundation and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH´s Greener Reefers project launched the Green Reefers Alliance to bring together frontrunners to demonstrate climate and environmentally friendly alternatives for refrigerated maritime containers and address the pressing need for sustainable practices in the rapidly growing reefer sector. The Greener Reefers project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection under the International Climate Initiative (IKI).

"As founding member of the Greener Reefers Alliance, the Kühne Foundation is committed to driving innovation and sustainability in the reefer industry”, said Otto Schacht, Kühne Foundation. “Together, we can make a significant impact on reducing emissions and making international trade more sustainable."

GIZ Project manager Philipp Denzinger "Today, we embark on a journey toward a sustainable maritime industry. The Greener Reefers Alliance is a collaborative effort to address the environmental and climate impact of reefers, and we are thrilled to start this important journey together with Kühne Foundation and we are looking forward to collaborating with more actors from the shipping industry.”

What is the aim of the Greener Reefers Alliance?

Reefers are essential for global trade in chilled and frozen products; however, they contribute significantly to the emissions of the container shipping industry. The Greener Reefers Alliance, a collaborative initiative, aims to tackle this challenge by promoting environmentally sustainable and climate friendly alternatives and enhancing energy efficiency within the sector. By bringing together industry frontrunners, innovators, and stakeholders, the Alliance aims to establish an enabling environment for the adoption of Greener Reefers, contributing to a more sustainable future for global shipping. The Alliance contributes to the implementation of the International Maritime Organization's GHG emissions reduction strategy and the Paris Agreement’s objectives.