We are pleased to announce that the white paper “Accelerating the transition to climate and environmentally friendly refrigerated maritime containers” is now available in Spanish
Translating the white paper marks an important step in expanding access to critical technical and strategic knowledge, enabling Spanish-speaking industry stakeholders to actively engage in the transition toward sustainable refrigerated maritime transport, an essential component of global trade
The white paper, which was developed by GIZ's Greener Reefers (opens in a new window) project in collaboration with the Kuehne Climate Center (opens in a new window), emphasizes the importance of transitioning from high-GWP synthetic refrigerants, such as R134a and R404A, to natural refrigerants, such as R290 (propane) and R744 (CO2), which significantly reduce direct emissions while maintaining technical performance comparable to conventional refrigerants. Given that refrigerant leakage rates in conventional systems can reach up to 25%, addressing this issue is critical to reducing the overall climate impact of refrigerated containers.
It also proposes solutions to eliminate PFAS and other persistent chemicals. These compounds remain in water, soil, and the food chain, posing risks to the environment and human health. Energy efficiency plays a central role as well, with innovations in insulation, smarter temperature control, and optimized logistics capable of reducing indirect emissions from refrigerated containers by up to 20%.
All of these measures align with international climate commitments, supporting the sector in meeting the targets of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) (opens in a new window) and the Paris Agreement through strategic public policies and financing mechanisms. Finally, strengthening international cooperation is crucial to scaling sustainable technologies and ensuring a global impact in the transition toward more efficient and environmentally responsible refrigerated maritime transport.
Making the white paper available in Spanish enables a much broader range of stakeholders — including policy makers, logistics operators, port authorities, manufacturers, and financial institutions — to access its analysis and recommendations. This is particularly relevant for regions such as Latin America, where refrigerated maritime transport is essential for exporting perishable goods and maintaining competitiveness in global markets. By removing language barriers, the Spanish edition supports faster implementation of sustainable solutions and strengthens collaboration across regions where refrigerated maritime transport is both strategically and economically vital.
With this launch, we are taking the next step toward more inclusive and effective knowledge sharing across global shipping markets and a faster, more coordinated transition toward climate- and environmentally friendly refrigerated maritime transport.