Conserving CO2 Supply During a Gas Shortage

How to Reduce CO₂ Refills and Conserve Gas Supply

Authored by Jennifer Riley:

Gas suppliers and customers, especially in the food and beverage industry, rely heavily on CO₂ gas supply for their day-to-day operations. From chilling and freezing to packaging and carbonating beverages, CO₂ has many use cases in the food and beverage industry. In fact, the food and beverage industry alone uses 70% of the U.S.’s CO₂ supply, with 15% taken up by just the beverage industry. However, the current CO₂ shortage puts pressure on businesses to seek tips and best practices for conserving their CO₂ gas supply to optimize operations, reduce their need for last-minute refills, and confidently navigate the road ahead.

With the help of supply partners, customers can improve their bottom line by conserving their CO₂ supply.

Understanding the State of CO₂

Over the last few years, as the pandemic waned and customers returned to restaurants, the demand for CO₂ steadily increased. This increase in demand proved to be short-lived, however, as beverage gas supply chain issues slowly appeared under the guise of labor shortages and rising labor costs. CO₂ supply could not keep up with demand, especially during summer months when beverage consumption is typically at its highest.

Furthermore, contamination issues exasperated CO₂ shortages. In the spring of 2022, Jackson Dome, a CO₂ reservoir in Mississippi that supplied 1,000 tons of CO₂ daily, was contaminated due to nearby gas wells. Contaminants could not be removed, halting CO₂ production and increasing supply chain disruptions. 

While industry experts cannot predict events such as contamination issues, they can analyze and predict the outlook of the supply chain landscape. As warmer weather continues, the CO₂ supply chain is expected to worsen as demand tends to outweigh fulfillment capacity during the beverage industry’s busiest season. At the same time, the food and beverage industry is bracing for rising food costs, estimated to increase 5.8% by the end of the year.

CO₂ Conservation Best Practices

For those who have felt the weight of CO₂ shortages and are looking for tips on how to navigate when planning for the year ahead, consider the following tactics and best practices for conserving your CO₂:

1. Monitor Your CO₂ Levels

When any resource starts to run low, it is best to replenish it before it is completely depleted. The same goes for your CO₂ gas supply. Ensure you are constantly checking your CO₂ levels and keeping track of your gauge. If your gauge is in the Yellow Level, it is cautioning low amounts and signaling for a refill.

A recommended best practice is implementing CO₂ level monitoring into your closing and opening processes, where employees can check levels at the start and end of the day. As you notice low-level status, the next step is to pick up the phone and initiate a new order.

Another easy tip for conserving your supply is to shut off your CO₂ valve to ensure it is not wasted during closing hours.

2. Place Proactive CO₂ Orders

People often don’t think about replacing something until it is already gone. When you have sufficient gas levels, why worry about ordering more? In today’s supply chain climate, where routes are tight and assets are limited, it is best to take a proactive approach to ordering your CO₂ tank refills. For example, locations that utilize cylinder tanks should order double the amount of CO₂ during busier months to ensure they have enough tanks if a truck cannot complete its delivery or a planned shutdown occurs. Mitigate potential setbacks by not delaying your orders and being aware of your current supply amount.

3. Rely on a Gas Supply Partner

As the state of the supply chain moves forward with uncertainty, find a partner you can trust that will help you navigate the ever-changing landscape. Partners are often up to date with industry trends, can analyze the market, and determine the best next steps to optimize your operations. Consider sourcing a partner that understands your specific CO₂ needs and can tailor their services to ensure you are conserving your supply and ordering the appropriate amounts for your business.

How EspriGas Can Help Conserve Your CO₂ Gas Supply

Our team at EspriGas understands the many challenges and unknowns customers in the food and beverage industry face when conserving their CO₂ gas supply. Working with a national network of suppliers, we help our customers optimize their supply and ensure on-time deliveries. EspriGas proactively shares best practices to conserve CO₂, helping our customers navigate obstacles and improve their processes.