Product shelf-life hit as CO2 shortage reaches store shelves
Photo by Craig Adderley
Supermarkets and consumers are dealing with the consequences of carbon dioxide (CO2) shortages within the supply chain. With intermittent shortages having been more common over the past two years, the severity of the situation has started to make itself known in supermarket aisles, as more are complaining about their soft drinks going flat, alongside other issues.
The use of CO2 in supermarkets
CO2 plays a range of roles in supermarkets, [particularly in the role of maintaining quality and shelf life across a range of products. For instance, soft drinks, sparkling water, and other carbonated beverages rely on CO2 to stay fizzy and appealing to consumers. The gas dissolves in the liquid under pressure, creating bubbles and the characteristic effervescence that is released when the container is opened. It is also widely used in produce. Food-grade CO2 is the gas that is inside packages of fresh produce, helping to slow down the ripening and spoilage of produce. This can allow supermarkets, and producers, to extend the shelf life of fruits, vegetables, and other perishable items, reducing waste and ensuring that customers receive fresh products.
Alternatives to CO2
As a result of the CO2 shortage, many supermarkets and producers are looking at alternatives. In order to keep food fresher for longer, for instance, refrigerated trucks and storage systems are the most common alternatives. Mechanical refrigeration can generate lower temperatures to keep products in lower temperatures, decreasing the need for CO2 by maintaining product freshness for longer. Nitrogen gas is also used as an alternative to CO2, fulfilling much the same role in being packaged inside products. Other brands have started to rely more on vacuum-sealing their products, which removes air from the packaging, reducing the exposure of food to oxygen, thereby slowing down spoilage and extending shelf life. Each of these alternatives has their own pros and cons, however, with none being a perfect replacement.
What’s causing the shortage?
The shortage of CO2 is happening across the globe, as part of an ongoing series of wider supply chain disruptions. In fact, the CO2 shortage is largely due to supply and demand mismatches in the ethanol and ammonia production industries. The CO2 used in supermarkets is largely produced as a byproduct of ammonia production. The production of ammonia itself relies on natural gas. The gas industry has undergone many changes, with prices rising and supply fluctuating since much of the world’s gas supply comes from Russia. The pandemic is another reason for the CO2 shortage. This is because ethanol, which also produces CO2 as a byproduct of its own production, found its demand greatly reduced due to the increase in stay-at-home orders. As such, the CO2 shortage is multifaceted in nature, with no clear end in sight.
The CO2 shortage is expected to continue to affect the quality of products on store shelves for a considerable time as of yet. The ongoing nature of the issues impacting international freight has many supermarkets and producers looking into other methods of helping their products maintain their quality, as a result.
