The Blue Economy - CASE 17: Preservation without Refrigeration
This article introduces innovations to produce soaps as one of the 100 innovations that shape The Blue Economy, known as ZERIʼs philosophy in action. This article is part of a broad effort by the author and the designer of the Blue Economy to stimulate open-source entrepreneurship, competitiveness and employment. Researched, Written and Updated by Professor Gunter Pauli.
The Blue Economy Inspired Series
Breaking the Cold Chain:
Nature-Inspired Preservation in the Blue Economy
Written by; Shelley Tsang, 2024.
As our global demand for preserved food and medicine continues to grow, the systems used to store and deliver these goods have become increasingly reliant on chemical agents and refrigeration. However, in the vision of the Blue Economy, pioneered by ZERI (Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives), a fundamental transformation is underway. This approach promotes innovations that prioritize natural, energy-efficient solutions, and inspire sustainable entrepreneurship. One striking innovation within this field replaces the conventional cold chain with a revolutionary preservation technology: sugar molecules. By tapping into the natural preservation mechanisms of plants and animals, researchers have developed sustainable ways to store and distribute vaccines and food without the energy and environmental costs of refrigeration.
The Expanding Market and Costs of Preserved Food and Medicine
The world market for preserved food has grown significantly, topping $500 billion and comprising about 32% of the total food market. In the United States alone, the food processing industry, with over 17,000 facilities, dominates half of this market. Meanwhile, food preservation technologies have evolved to ensure food safety and quality, leading to an estimated 40% of all food consumed worldwide being packaged, processed, or preserved. Chemical preservatives, antimicrobials, and refrigeration are key drivers in this process, with the largest segments being dairy, bakery, snacks, confectionery, and beverages.
Despite the effectiveness of these methods, the environmental and financial impacts are substantial. In the United States alone, it is estimated that food processing facilities spent over $6.9 billion on refrigeration in 2008, while the plastics industry, heavily integrated into food processing and packaging, has become a $110 billion business worldwide. Similarly, cold chain storage for vaccines is crucial, as it protects the efficacy of these vital medicines. However, it is estimated that up to 50% of vaccines lose their potency due to inadequate refrigeration, with the costs of a single vaccine delivery often reaching as high as $340.
A Natural Breakthrough: Sugar-Based Vaccine Preservation
Bruce Roser, a biomedical researcher, found inspiration in nature’s preservation techniques to reduce reliance on the cold chain. Using the sugar trehalose, Roser developed a technique for storing vaccines without refrigeration. Trehalose molecules, which can remain dormant and stable in a dehydrated state, become active only upon rehydration, effectively mimicking natural preservation methods found in certain plants and animals.
For example, the resurrection fern (Pleopeltis polypodioides) can remain desiccated in the desert for years by retaining moisture in a solidified sugar solution. This ability allows it to survive and become "alive" again during rainfall. Similarly, Roser’s sugar-based vaccine preservation technology enables vaccines to be dried into powder form and stored at room temperature. This technique eliminates the need for the cold chain, saving energy and reducing storage costs. Vaccines coated with sugars can stay stable for years, making it easier and less costly to deliver vital medicines to remote, underserved regions.
From Plants and Animals to Preserved Food: Leveraging Nature’s Innovations
The Blue Economy philosophy envisions this breakthrough not just for vaccines but also for transforming food preservation. By looking at natural mechanisms, we can reimagine how food is stored, eliminating the need for refrigeration, compressors, and synthetic chemical preservatives. Nature has long provided examples of preservation techniques that allow organisms to withstand extreme conditions, from desert plants that desiccate and rehydrate to deep-sea animals that rely on calcium compounds for durability and stability.
The application of these biological insights to food storage could help develop a system that enables food to remain fresh without refrigeration or chemicals, saving significant energy. If the cold chain were replaced in this way, it could also minimize reliance on plastic packaging and other single-use materials that are problematic for the environment.
Economic and Environmental Advantages
An estimated $300 million worth of vaccines are wasted annually due to a lack of effective cold storage. By adopting Roser’s sugar preservation model, countries could save millions of dollars in energy costs and preserve the potency of vaccines, thus increasing access and effectiveness. Such methods could also reduce carbon emissions associated with maintaining cold chains. In developing countries, where electricity and resources are often limited, the benefits of such innovations are especially pronounced. They promise affordable and effective preservation options that don’t rely on cold storage infrastructure, which can be costly and difficult to maintain.
Similarly, applying sugar-based or other nature-inspired preservation techniques to food could reduce the food industry’s dependence on refrigeration, bringing additional cost savings and lowering the environmental footprint. Instead of billions spent on refrigeration and plastics, businesses could invest in scalable, sustainable food storage solutions that promote greater access to preserved food in communities around the world.
Challenges and Future Directions
While the promise of “preservation without refrigeration” is compelling, several challenges remain. Developing preservation systems that provide the same texture and flavour as fresh food without refrigeration requires significant research. Additionally, the transition from synthetic chemical preservatives to biological methods involves complex testing to ensure safety and compliance with international food and drug regulations.
Innovations in preservation must also consider consumer perceptions. Many consumers associate freshness with refrigeration, and introducing these novel methods will require public education on the safety and sustainability of these new techniques. However, given the growing consumer demand for eco-friendly products and increasing awareness of environmental issues, public acceptance of “preservation without refrigeration” could happen relatively quickly.
Scaling the Solution: Entrepreneurial Opportunities in the Blue Economy
The adoption of sugar-based preservation or similar techniques offers vast entrepreneurial potential. Entrepreneurs could leverage these innovations to create more accessible storage options, both for medicine and food. New businesses could emerge to manufacture, distribute, and market preservation technologies that rely on natural principles, lowering the overall cost of preserved goods while opening up new markets.
A world where food and medicine don’t rely on refrigeration would profoundly impact industries ranging from healthcare and pharmaceuticals to agriculture and retail. Entrepreneurs who harness this potential could disrupt traditional food and cold chain industries, positioning their businesses at the forefront of a global shift toward sustainability.
A Future Without Refrigeration?
The prospect of eliminating refrigeration in both food and medical supply chains represents a significant opportunity for reducing global energy use and carbon emissions. Supermarkets, for instance, could replace freezer sections with natural, shelf-stable products, saving millions in electricity costs and greenhouse gas emissions. With sustainable preservation systems, communities in remote or developing regions could benefit from a more robust and reliable food supply, independent of expensive and fragile refrigeration systems.
This approach also exemplifies the Blue Economy’s broader vision: creating solutions that provide “something for nothing,” leveraging natural mechanisms instead of costly infrastructure. The “something” in this case is a sustainable preservation system that removes the need for energy-intensive cold storage and chemical additives.
As we look to the future, the successful development and adoption of “preservation without refrigeration” could redefine how we think about food and medicine storage. By drawing from nature’s time-tested methods and fostering an open-source approach to innovation, we could transform entire industries, creating resilient, sustainable systems that meet our needs while protecting our planet.
In summary, the preservation without refrigeration movement is more than a technological shift; it’s a rethinking of how we store and distribute essential goods. Innovations inspired by natural resilience, like sugar-based vaccine preservation, hold the potential to revolutionize global supply chains and reduce environmental impact. As more entrepreneurs and researchers adopt these techniques, the Blue Economy’s vision of sustainable, accessible, and affordable preservation systems could become a reality—creating a future where preservation is achieved naturally, without environmental or financial strain.
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