The World Refrigeration Day raises awareness and understanding about the significant role that the refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat-pump industry and its technologies play in modern life. This year, it is particularly dedicated to the cold chain (#ColdChain4Life). The cold chain links producers and growers across the world to the domestic refrigerator in our kitchens, and it is essential for so much more than food. For example, vaccines must remain chilled until they are used by medical professionals, and it is essential for blood transfusions, organ donor transport and storage.

Andrea Voigt, EPEE director general, said: “Cooling is the backbone of our society: As more and more Europeans live in cities, we count on cooling to ensure healthy, productive and comfortable living and working environments, fresh and safe food and best in class healthcare. Our sector is essential for our health, for our productivity, for our wellbeing. And it does not stop there. Cooling can play a major role to support the decarbonisation of our economy.”

The cooling industry takes its responsibility seriously and is continuously innovating to provide long-term solutions to maximise the benefits of cooling for society in a safe, affordable, and environmentally sustainable manner.

The organisers of the WRD’s ColdChain4Life campaign are the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), ASHRAE, European Partnership for Energy and Environment (EPEE), International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR), the Global Food Cold Chain Council (GFCCC) and the WRD Secretariat.