Albert Heijn transports fresh and frozen products with the va-Q-box
It started out as a small Kruidenierswinkel in 1887 and has developed into the largest supermarket chain in the Netherlands in over 135 years: Albert Heijn has always stood for quality, progress and proximity to people. Today, the company combines its long tradition with modern, forward-looking solutions – such as the delivery of fresh and frozen food directly to your home.
For sustainable and efficient home delivery, Albert Heijn relies on the innovative, vacuum-insulated reusable boxes from va-Q-tec. This not only ensures optimum quality and freshness, but also provides ecological and economic benefits – all in the spirit of modern, responsible food supply.
Up to 9,000 tons of CO₂e saved annually
Albert Heijn supplies thousands of households in the Netherlands with fresh and frozen food every week. The company is pursuing ambitious sustainability goals. By using the reusable transport boxes from va-Q-tec, around 9,000 tons of CO₂ equivalents can be saved every year. This saving is roughly equivalent to the emissions of 6,000 diesel vehicles with an average mileage of 10,000 kilometers per year and a consumption of 6 liters per 100 kilometers.
Around 100,000 of these boxes are currently in use at Albert Heijn. They are unloaded directly on delivery, returned to the company, cleaned and reused – a closed cycle that saves resources. If demand increases, more boxes can be manufactured at short notice at the va-Q-tec production facilities in Würzburg and Kölleda (Thuringia) and delivered to Albert Heijn in the Netherlands or other countries.
We are very happy to have gained such an important partner with Albert Heijn for our sustainable transport solutions. The totes were specifically developed for transporting groceries. As a company, we share the vision of an energy-saving and environmentally friendly supply system. Albert Heijn is a pioneer for this vision and setting an exemple for sustainable grocery deliveries.
Marc Moelter, Head of Sales Food at va-Q-tec
Special cold packs ensure safe food transportation
Albert Heijn uses special cooling elements developed by va-Q-tec for the safe transportation of frozen food. These so-called phase change materials (PCMs) ensure a constant temperature over a longer period of time – this is made possible by their combination with vacuum-insulated transport boxes. Depending on the requirements, PCMs with different fillings are used. These are each tailored to specific temperature ranges and ensure that the cold chain is reliably maintained.
A major advantage: thanks to the PCMs, the use of dry ice can be largely dispensed with. This significantly increases occupational safety – because dry ice poses risks such as cold burns or, with insufficient ventilation, an increased CO₂ concentration. Thanks to the innovative cooling technologies from va-Q-tec, Albert Heijn saves up to 10,000 tons of dry ice every year – a significant contribution to more sustainable food logistics.
Innovative cooling technology for a sustainable food supply
The va-Q-box consists of a robust, lightweight EPP container equipped with high-performance vacuum insulation panels (VIPs). A high-performance cooling element with phase change material (PCM), which is integrated in the lid, keeps the temperature stable for up to 36 hours, depending on the application. In the deep-freeze sector, a single cooling element is usually sufficient to ensure optimum conditions.
The sophisticated design of the reusable box enables easy handling, smooth integration into existing logistics processes and a noticeable reduction in operating costs. The ergonomic design with integrated recessed grips and the lightweight construction also make it easier to work along the entire supply chain. In addition, the box can be individually adapted to different temperature requirements, dimensions and holding times.
