Industrial refrigeration is important to the medical industry, but has a significant impact on emissions. Some companies are beginning to implement strategies to reduce these emissions, from energy management systems to alternative refrigerants.
Many medicines, especially biologics and certain vaccines, are very sensitive to changes in temperature. These products must be stored under specific temperature conditions to maintain their effectiveness and safety. For example, refrigerated medicines must be stored at low temperatures in special refrigerated containers until just before use.
Efficient cold chain management is essential in the pharmaceutical industry. Disconnected supply chains can compromise optimal storage conditions, which are essential for temperature-sensitive products. The increasing use of biologics, cell and gene therapies, and temperature-sensitive vaccines has increased the need for reliable cold chain solutions. All of these require specialized cold chain storage and packaging that can withstand extremely low temperatures. With the increase in clinical trials, particularly cell and gene therapies, demand for ultra-cold storage solutions is accelerating. The facilities operated by Thermo Fisher are being expanded in response to these needs, and are now able to efficiently store products that require temperatures as low as -80°C. This capability is essential to support both large biopharmaceutical companies and smaller biotech companies that lack the necessary infrastructure.
Industrial refrigeration contributes to greenhouse gas emissions in healthcare primarily through refrigerants, especially those classified as hydrofluorocarbons and other fluorinated gases. These substances are powerful greenhouse gases with high global warming potential and are commonly found in refrigeration and air conditioning systems in medical facilities.
Refrigeration units in medical settings often use refrigerants such as Freon that can leak into the atmosphere during operation. Emissions associated with these leaks are classified as Scope 1 emissions, which are direct emissions from owned or controlled sources.
Electricity used to power refrigeration and air conditioning systems also contributes to emissions. Refrigerated vehicles require additional energy to power a cooling system known as a transport refrigeration unit (TRU) that keeps products at a controlled temperature. According to the low-emissions transportation and energy research and technology organization Cenex, the average diesel trailer TRU produces about 8 tons of tailpipe carbon dioxide per year. This is equivalent to the average annual production of four cars in the UK.
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