Between incorrect temperatures, uncontrolled transport, and inefficient storage,
millions of tons of food are discarded every year. The paradox is that this happens precisely in the places that should provide safe and consistent nourishment: school, hospital, and corporate canteens.
In an era where
food waste is central to every sustainable strategy, the
cold chain is still too often the weakest link. And the numbers speak for themselves.
Italy:
Approximately
210,000 tons of food are wasted annually in school canteens, and at least
15% of this is due to suboptimal storage and transport. This amounts to
over 31,000 tons of food lost in the cold chain alone.
Europe:
According to the European Environment Agency 2023,
88 million tons of food are discarded annually in the EU.
20% of this is due to cold chain errors (transport, storage, distribution), totaling approximately
17.6 million tons.
World:
Globally,
500 million tons of food are lost each year due to
inefficiencies in refrigeration, transport, and storage.
Food waste is not just an ethical issue, but an environmental, social, and economic problem. This is why
Target 12.3 of the UN 2030 Agenda sets two precise goals:
- Halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels;
- Reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.
In practice, this means addressing all causes of waste, not just on the final consumer’s plate, but especially in the upstream phases, where waste is often invisible yet extremely impactful.
According to the
FAO,
over 40% of global food waste occurs before food reaches tables, due to inadequate storage, refrigeration errors, and ineffective transport.
In the collective catering sector (schools, hospitals, businesses), this translates into food that breaks the cold chain, is discarded for hygiene and health reasons, or cannot be served because it has deteriorated.
Reducing these losses means cutting CO₂ emissions, saving resources, and lowering costs, but it also contributes to more resilient and equitable food systems. Investing in solutions for a high-performing cold chain – such as professional isothermal containers – is one of the most effective and immediate ways to align with SDG 12.3 and concretely address the global challenges of the future.
A high-performing cold chain:
- Maintains the nutritional properties of food.
- Reduces waste by up to 30%.
- Prevents contamination and hygiene/health issues.
- Lowers costs related to disposal, reorders, and service interruptions.
- Helps comply with increasingly stringent regulations.
For those managing school, healthcare, or corporate canteens, it’s a strategic and environmental lever.
MELFORM insulated containers are designed to
ensure thermal control even in the most challenging conditions, offering:
- Extended thermal autonomy.
- Maximum resistance to temperature fluctuations.
- Safe and durable materials.
- Compatibility with electric and sustainable transport.
From school meals to hospital diets MELFORM containers
help reduce waste, improve efficiency, and increase the sustainability of food logistics.
If you are looking for solutions to optimize your cold chain and contribute to the sustainability of your canteen service,
we are ready to support you.
Contact us and discover the MELFORM line for collective catering.
