Birds Eye to deploy solar TRUs

Birds Eye plans to roll out two new solar-powered refrigerated trailers to transport thousands of tons of product each year as part of a partnership with European shipping and logistics firm DFDS and British sustainable-powered refrigeration specialist Sunswap that aims to advance their progress toward articulated 2025 science-based carbon reduction targets.

The new trailers will be responsible for transporting Birds Eye products predominantly from Birds Eye’s production facility at Lowestoft to its distribution hub at Wisbech in Cambridgeshire, England.

“We’re delighted to be working with DFDS and Sunswap to help reduce the environmental impact of our operations,” Shaun Smith, Birds Eye U.K. & I.E. general manager, said in a news release. “As the U.K.’s leader in quality frozen food, we have a responsibility to drive innovation throughout our supply chain. Sunswap's proven electric technology enables us to maintain the highest standards of temperature-controlled transport while helping reduce our carbon emissions.

“It’s fitting that the technology we’re now using to support the running of these trailers uses the same sun that ripens our peas to perfection in the field, keeping our products frozen at their peak as they start their journey to millions of U.K. homes.”

The partnership marks the latest step in Birds Eye’s goal of driving sustainability within its operations and builds on its progress in reducing carbon emissions across its value chain. The partnership reflects a broader industry movement toward sustainable cold chain operations, with both Birds Eye and Sunswap participating in the “Move to -15°C” coalition, which aims to reduce energy consumption in frozen food transport and storage through optimized temperature management.

“We're thrilled to partner with Birds Eye on this important initiative to help reduce emissions in the supply chain,” Sunswap CEO Michael Lowe added. “Sunswap Endurance delivers the precise temperature control that frozen food logistics requires. This collaboration with an industry food leader like Birds Eye confirms that our British-engineered and manufactured system not only matches the performance and reliability needed for temperature-critical food transport but goes further by reducing direct emissions and helping cut operating costs.”