Cold chain logistics challenges on sustainability: A systematic review

Cold Chain Logistics (CCL) ensures the safety and quality of perishable products such as vaccines, pharmaceuticals, biologics, fruits, vegetables, meat, and seafood, yet it is highly vulnerable to Cold Chain Logistics Risks (CCLR). While several studies have addressed logistical risks, few have systematically examined their compounded effects on sustainability performance (SP), nor explored the strategic role of Supply Chain Resilience (SCR) and Sustainability Innovation (SI) in mitigating these risks. This study aims to identify and classify key risk factors in CCL, with a particular focus on their severity and impact on economic, environmental, and social performance. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) of 97 peer-reviewed journal articles from Scopus (2010–2025) was conducted using PRISMA guidelines and thematic coding. The review identifies six dominant CCLR categories: temperature deviation, equipment failure, regulatory non-compliance, traceability issues, transportation delays, and energy inefficiency. Among them, temperature deviation and equipment failure emerged as the most severe risks, frequently linked to product spoilage and financial losses. The findings demonstrate that integrating SCR and SI significantly enhances the ability of cold chain systems to maintain sustainability under disruption. Conceptual ambiguities in defining interlinkages between sustainability pillars are also highlighted. This study contributes an integrative framework linking CCLR, SCR, SI, and SP, offering theoretical clarity and practical strategies for building more resilient, sustainable cold supply chains. Recommendations are provided for practitioners and policymakers to improve risk preparedness and long-term sustainability. Lastly, this research elaborates the potential future research agenda, and also discuss its limitation.