Industry-first
life cycle
assessment
certification
Life cycle emissions go way
beyond refrigerant
When it comes to cold chain emissions, many fleets see only part of the picture. Like how refrigerant is a first step, but also just a fraction of your footprint.
To show the bigger picture and support your sustainability goals, Thermo King now offers industry-first life cycle assessment certification for its refrigeration units.
What is LCA?
LCA or Life Cycle Assessment is a “cradle-to-grave” audit of a product’s environmental footprint. Our certification provides third-party-verified data across five critical asset stages, proving where emissions reside and where they can be reduced.
Watch our LCA explainer video
Main carbon footprint contributors
in a TRU system
4%
Unit Manufacturing
Emissions generated before the unit enters operation
- Raw materials
- Production
- Transport
- Disposal
- Recycling
96%
Unit Operation
Emissions generated over the unit’s working life
- Fuel
- Maintenance
- Refrigerant
Why LCA matters
Sustainability leadership
The LCA certification demonstrate a complete view of your emissions.
Actionable proof
Turn lifecycle data into clear insights that show exactly where to act and how to reduce emissions.
Sustainable innovation
LCA highlights opportunities for more sustainable innovation and better product design.
How to lower your life cycle emissions
Full-electric refrigeration units
A constant cooling capacity, optimum pulldown speed and precise temperature control for maximum load integrity.
Low GWP refrigerants
All recent models use A2L refrigerants or are ready to operate with them, reducing environmental impact from the start.
ECO-mode
Maximise fuel efficiency on Advancer models with intelligent ECO-mode activation at the touch of a button.
Energy and fuel-saving accessories
Upgrade your vehicle and cooling system to reduce energy use, improve efficiency, and move closer to net-zero operations.
Frequently asked, always answered
1. How does LCA support innovation?
LCA highlights where the biggest environmental impacts occur, helping guide smarter design choices and more sustainable innovation.
2. How does LCA influence the way Thermo King develops new products?
At Thermo King, LCA is integrated into new product development. This helps teams identify and reduce the biggest life cycle emission drivers early in the design process.
3. Does Thermo King certify the LCA of all its units?
Not all units are certified. In general, newer and recently launched products come with an LCA certificate, while some legacy products may not.
4. Can a natural refrigerant significantly lower my product’s LCA?
A natural refrigerant can reduce refrigerant-related climate impact, but on its own it usually will not drive the biggest LCA reduction. In many applications, the greatest gains come from improving operational efficiency.
5. Does an all-electric refrigeration unit automatically mean zero lifecycle emissions?
An all-electric unit achieves zero tailpipe emissions on the road. However, an LCA certification looks at the full picture, accounting for the CO2 emissions generated during raw material sourcing, battery manufacturing, recycling and more.
6. How can fuel-efficient solutions help lower emissions?
Fuel-efficient and energy-efficient solutions help reduce emissions where it matters most — during operation, which is often the largest part of the product footprint.
7. Can a carbon-intensive electricity grid cancel out the benefits of electric units?
Not necessarily. Even on a more carbon-intensive grid, electric systems can still provide life cycle benefits because they are often more energy efficient.
8. Can I lower my emissions without investing heavily in electrification?
Yes. With Thermo King’s Rental Solutions, you can buy or rent fully equipped electric refrigerated vehicles, letting you lower your footprint without capital investment.
