Cleantech Group Releases Cold Chain Innovation Report

February 13^th, 2026 — Cleantech Group released Cold Chain Innovation, a new market intelligence report analyzing how cold chain innovation is addressing gaps and inefficiencies and creating new business opportunities for agricultural, industrial, and transport players. The report finds that energy-efficient and flexible refrigeration solutions offer significant cost savings by reducing energy use, addressing logistical inefficiencies, enabling more-efficient transport, and reducing post-harvest produce spoilage.

The report identifies how innovative solutions align economic and climate motivations across the global cold chain to reduce associated emissions, food waste, and deploy renewable energy sources for the transport and storage of chilled food products.

“Southeast Asia is emerging as a strong source of innovation. Driven by increasing climate pressures and underserved by incumbent solutions, local innovators are developing cold chain solutions that not only increase the accessibility and affordability of cold storage and transport solutions, but offer corporate players in the industrial cooling, HVAC, and transport sectors significant cost and emissions savings,” said Nicole Cerulli, Associate at Cleantech Group.

Core Findings

According to the analysis:

• High energy costs and climate regulations, such as low-emissions delivery zones and bans on polluting refrigerants, require food delivery and industrial actors to adopt sustainable solutions.
• Innovative technologies such as passive cooling systems and digital twin for cold storage efficiency and maintenance provide an opportunity for corporates to meet compliance requirements while reducing operations costs.
• Low-emissions cooling for transport solutions across both developing and mature cold chain markets enables the use of more efficient transport modes and vehicles, lowering energy use and costs, and addressing key logistical gaps and inefficiencies.
• Developing cold chain markets across the global south, particularly Southeast Asia, face particular challenges related to grid access and lower purchasing capacity—local cost-efficient solutions targeting growers and small transport companies meet an expanding demand across developing markets and have the opportunity for significant international growth, particularly in the adjacent industrial cooling and HVAC markets.

About Cleantech Group

Cleantech® Group is the human intelligence authority on global cleantech innovation. Since 2002, we’ve helped decision-makers across industry, finance, and policy navigate the rapid shifts transforming the global economy.

Going beyond market intelligence—offering insights, strategic guidance, and curated connections to help leaders stay ahead, identify opportunities, and act with confidence. Our insight is built on over 20 years of human intelligence, proprietary data, and direct relationships with the ecosystem leaders driving change.

Media Contact

Addison Marr
Marketing Manager   
Cleantech Group
addison.marr@cleantech.com