Smarter logistics can help prevent food waste in logistics

Every year, one-fifth of the food produced globally goes to waste—enough to provide one billion meals daily. If food waste were a country, it would be the world’s third-largest producer of greenhouse-gas emissions, outranked only by China and the US.

Fortunately, new supply chain optimisation technologies are now tackling this challenge head on. Thanks to these innovations, food transport is about to become a lot smarter, more efficient, and better equipped to cut food waste.

Where does food waste occur in overland logistics?

While most food waste occurs in households, restaurants, and stores, around 14% occurs during transport. That means optimising overland logistics could have a huge impact on preventing waste and reducing global emissions.

Trucks carry fresh produce across huge distances, yet supply chain fragility such as breakdowns and delays often leads to losses. Ineffective demand planning also leaves food sitting in warehouses or overstocked. By the time it’s on the road, quality may already be declining, or the best-before date may be approaching.

Temperature fluctuations and refrigeration failures pose even bigger risks. In warmer regions, trucks that struggle to maintain consistent temperatures often see shipments spoil, wasting perfectly good food and the resources that produced it.

Preventing food loss with technology

Today, many sustainability-focused companies are developing solutions to help slow the rising food waste crisis. These solutions focus on key areas of supply chain management, such as:

• Smart demand forecasting: New, AI-powered demand forecasting tools significantly improve supply chain management. They help prevent overproduction and stop food from sitting idle in warehouses. By keeping supply chains leaner, businesses deliver fresher products and minimise spoilage.
  
  
• Cold chain optimisation: IoT sensors track truck temperatures and humidity in real time, ensuring optimal conditions. Alerts notify drivers of deviations, enabling quick fixes that preserve shipments. In a new feature launched in collaboration with IoT specialists CO3, CtrlChain will be able to provide real-time data, such as temperature and tracking. This enables transport planners to respond quickly to disruptions and reduce food spoilage during transit.
  
  
• Collaborative logistics: Systems like CtrlChain boost coordination across supply chains. They help shippers and carriers make data-driven choices, optimise routes, and reduce inefficiencies. Trucks avoid empty runs, save fuel, and deliver fresher goods with fewer delays—benefiting businesses, consumers, and the planet.
  
  
• Flexible distribution models: Shortening supply chains offers big benefits. Partnering with local distributors and suppliers cuts transit times and the risks of long-distance hauls, so fresher food reaches markets faster, without spoiling.
  
  
• Dynamic shelf-life management: IoT sensors are also changing how companies track shelf life. By collecting real-time data, these devices adjust expiration dates according to actual storage conditions. This ensures products sell before they spoil. It also helps consumers receive higher-quality goods.

“Food waste causes five times more emissions than global aviation, and not enough people are talking about it. Optimising supply chains is a major step towards a solution.”

– Giovanni Gubbels, CEO at CtrlChain

Transforming cold chain management

The race to end food waste is on, and a handful of tech innovators are stepping up. Initiatives like the EU-backed platform Agri Marketplace help match supply with demand, to ensure fresh food is distributed more efficiently. Meanwhile, green startups like MaGie Creations upcycle unwanted foods to extend their shelf life and stop waste.

NewCold, a pioneer in the field of automated cold storage, designs and builds state-of-the-art cold storage facilities, incorporating a range of technologies to minimise food waste, enhance sustainability, and help its clients operate more efficiently.

CtrlChain is also committed to fighting the causes of food waste, such as supply chain fragility, unnecessary delays, and ineffective transport management. Our system uses data analytics to optimise routes and ensure greater control and visibility throughout the supply chain. This reduces emissions, cuts costs, and helps get foods to the market faster and fresher.

The future of sustainable food transport

The global food waste crisis demands smarter solutions, and innovation in logistics is leading the way. Advanced technologies like IoT sensors, AI-driven demand forecasting, and collaborative platforms are transforming cold chain management to reduce waste, cut emissions, and deliver fresher food faster.

Ready to make an impact? Explore how CtrlChain’s sustainability features and transport management solutions can help your business drive meaningful change. Learn more today!