Canadian Supermarket Scorecard 2024

The 2024 edition of the biennial Climate-Friendly Supermarkets Scorecard marks the second time in two years that EIA scored the biggest Canadian supermarket chains on their actions to reduce emissions of climate super pollutant hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Each company is scored on actions in three categories: technology adoption*, refrigerant management, and policy & commitments. For more information, visit our scorecard FAQ page. 

Canadian food retailers have taken steps to reduce HFC emissions, but still have ample room for improvement. Of the five largest food retailers by revenue in Canada we reviewed – Costco, Loblaws, Metro Inc., Sobeys, and Walmart –none even received 60% of the total score possible. While all five companies increased their score from 2022, some of these improvements were minimal while others were more moderate, yet still show a need for greater ambition to transition away from HFCs.

*Technology adoption refers to a company’s installation of refrigeration systems that use ultra-low global warming potential (<10 GWP) refrigerants. Medium-GWP refrigerants are those with potentials from 150-1400 GWP, and high-GWP are any refrigerant above. 

Technology Adoption
50%

Refrigerant Management
84%

Policy & Commitments
33%

Sobeys scored the highest in technology adoption and refrigerant management categories, as well as the highest overall score of the five companies. The most recent information shows it has increased its number of stores using ultra-low GWP refrigerants from 9% to 16% of all stores. It now uses ultra-low GWP refrigerants in standalone equipment in 3 stores, as opposed to zero in 2022. However, Sobeys does not appear to be on track for its 2012 sustainability goals to deploy ultra-low GWP transcritical systems chainwide in 15 years. Sobeys has announced plans to “leak proof” stores and transition to refrigerants with low or no GWP for all new stores and renovation projects starting in 2024. Its annual average refrigerant leak rate continues to be reported as 7%. Accelerating HFC-free technology adoption across all of its stores and standalone equipment would improve Sobeys' score.

Percentage change from 2022 score: +12%

Company did not respond to EIA's scorecard survey, details here.

Technology Adoption
43%

Refrigerant Management
53%

Policy & Commitments
50%

Since 2016, Metro reports using natural refrigerants in all new stores. Since the last scorecard, it increased retrofits of stores from high to medium-GWP refrigerants and reports less than 10% of its standalone equipment using ultra-low GWP refrigerants. Over half its distribution centers use entirely ultra-low GWP refrigerants, an increase from roughly 10% in the prior scorecard. In 2024, Metro publicly disclosed its refrigerant leak rate, which is 10%. Metro can improve its score by accelerating HFC-free technology adoption across all of its stores and standalone equipment, and setting a time-bound commitment to phase out HFCs from all stores.

Percentage change from 2022 score: +14%

Technology Adoption
32%

Refrigerant Management
0%

Policy & Commitments
33%

Since 2019, all of Loblaws new stores reportedly use natural refrigerants. It reports using hybrid systems of HFCs and ultra-low GWP CO2 refrigerants in 10% of its stores, but public records indicate just 2.6% of its stores use entirely ultra-low GWP cooling. Since the last scorecard, Loblaws has retrofitted 8-10% of its stores from using high-GWP to medium-GWP refrigerants, an increase from less than 1%. Setting a time-bound commitment to phase out HFCs from all stores and publicly disclosing its refrigerant leak rate would improve Loblaws’ score.

Percentage change from 2022 score: +4%

Company did not respond to EIA's scorecard survey, details here.

Technology Adoption
15%

Refrigerant Management
0%

Policy & Commitments
50%

Walmart has committed to transition from HFCs to low-GWP refrigerants by 2040. Currently, Walmart Canada uses entirely ultra-low GWP in less than 1% of its total stores and in less than 10% of its distribution centers. Since the last scorecard, Walmart Canada has committed to adopt ultra-low GWP refrigerants in all new stores and during major remodels with new grocery departments. Walmart Canada can improve its score by publicly reporting its refrigerant leak rate and accelerating its timeline to phase out HFCs

Percentage change from 2022 score: +3%

Company did not respond to EIA's scorecard survey, details here.

Technology Adoption
4%

Refrigerant Management
0%

Policy & Commitments
33%

In 2022, Costco committed to globally “accelerate the phase-out of HFCs” and increase its investment in refrigeration retrofits to reduce emissions by 30% by 2030. Nearly 3% of Costco’s Canadian stores use entirely ultra-low GWP refrigerants, as well as less than 1% of its distribution centers. Since the previous scorecard, Costco has incorporated some ultra-low GWP refrigerants in less than 1% of its stores and has transitioned an additional less than 1% from high to medium-GWP. Costco has committed to increase the number of CO2-based refrigeration systems to 50% of all new warehouses in the U.S. and Canada through 2030. Greater transparency about Costco’s annual leak rate and setting a time-bound target to eliminate HFCs across operations would improve its score.

Percentage change from 2022 score: +2%

Company did not respond to EIA's scorecard survey, details here.

Sector Progress

All the listed companies now have commitments to increase adoption of climate-friendly refrigerants, including committing to adopt ultra-low GWP refrigerants in all new stores, and four companies (Costco, Sobeys, Metro, and Walmart) have attached timelines to transition away from using HFCs.

Since the previous scorecard, Sobeys, Metro, and Loblaws made some progress in the number of stores using entirely ultra-low GWP refrigerants and transitioning stores from high to medium-GWP. Costco made less progress, and Walmart has made no progress in technology adoption as per best publicly available information. And while all the companies have commitments for future adoption of ultra-low GWP refrigerants, the current rate of climate-friendly technology adoption is not at the level of ambition needed to meet targets.

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), centralized refrigeration systems and condensing units, like those used in supermarkets, have annual average refrigerant leakage rates of 25%. Addressing these leaks is crucial to curbing emissions, but Sobeys and Metro are the only companies that publicly disclose their annual average refrigerant leak rates and have refrigerant management commitments. EIA encourages all companies to report leak rates and set targets to reduce them through improving leak detection and repair.

Canada ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, the treaty to phase down the production and use of HFCs, and its new regulations to meet these obligations went into force in 2019. Given this phase-down will inevitably result in supply shortages and high prices of HFCs, it also makes business-sense for companies to swiftly adopt HFC-free cooling across operations.

Given the significant global warming impact of HFCs, EIA is calling for all supermarkets to:

  1. Develop a strategy to fully phase out all HFCs in stores by 2035, including an interim target to reduce HFC emissions by 50% by 2030.  

  2. Immediately use only HFC-free refrigeration in all new builds and major retrofits.

  3. Use only recycled and reclaimed refrigerants to service existing equipment that uses HFCs.

  4. Reduce corporate average refrigerant leak rate to best-in-class rate of <5% and publish progress towards this goal.

  5. Implement upgrades to leak monitoring and repair best practices, including a zero-leak tolerance policy which requires leaks to be repaired prior to adding more refrigerant.

  6. Make public commitments or goals to reduce HFC use and emissions and proactively engage with stakeholders in industry and policy settings.       

  7. Reduce the overall climate footprint of their cooling including through energy efficiency measures and easy-but-impactful steps like adding doors or night shades to open cases, upgrading to LED lighting, and reducing leaks.

  8. Enhance transparency by regularly publishing information quantifying current refrigerant emissions, all actions taken to adopt technology, reduce leaks, increase efficiency, as well as stating measurable future commitments to reduce use and emissions.

Parent Companies | Brands and Subsidiaries

Metro | Metro | Metro Plus | Super C | Food Basics Sobeys (under Empire Company) | Sobeys | IGA Extra | Safeway | Thrifty Foods | IGA | Foodland | Bonichoix | Les Marches Tradition | Fresh Co | PriceChopper | Needs Convenience | Loblaws | Loblaws / Loblaw | Atlantic Cash & Carry | Atlantic Superstore | Bloor Street Market | Dominion | Les Entrepôts Presto | Extra Foods | Fortinos | Freshmart | L'Intermarché | GreatFood / Loblaws CityMarket | Lucky Dollar Foods | Maxi / Maxi & Cie | NG Cash & Carry| No Frills | Provigo | Real Canadian Superstore | Shop Easy Foods | Shoppers Drug Mart / Pharmaprix | SuperValu | T & T Supermarket | Valu-mart | Wholesale Club / Club Entrepôt | Your Independent Grocer | Independent CityMarket | Zehrs Markets
 
 

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