2019 Assessment of U.S. Supermarkets
The U.S. supermarket sector has generally lagged behind counterparts in other developed countries in adopting cooling technology without super pollutant HFCs.
An Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) 2019 assessment of the voluntary actions of U.S. retailers to reduce HFCs showed that a small group of companies are leading the U.S. market in adoption of climate-friendly technologies and refrigerant management best practices. ALDI US emerged as the standout leader with Whole Foods Market, Target, Sprouts Farmer’s Market, and Ahold Delhaize USA also recognized as taking significant action.
Together ALDI US, Whole Foods, Target, Ahold Delhaize USA, and Sprouts and have:
Certified at least 258 stores in EPA’s GreenChill Partnership
Installed display cases using energy efficient hydrocarbons in over 1700 stores nationwide
Adopted low-GWP refrigerants in at least 243 U.S. supermarket refrigeration systems
These companies are active participants in the EPA’s GreenChill Partnership, have adopted climate-friendly technologies in multiple stores, and have made information publicly available on their actions or policies with regard to refrigerants. However, these companies represent just 15% of U.S. supermarkets. There remains a massive opportunity for these and other private sector leaders to step forward and make additional voluntary commitments to U.S. climate action on HFCs in the three areas of technology adoption, refrigerant management, and technical and policy dialogue.
Aldi US
ALDI is one of the fastest growing retailers in the U.S., with more than 1,800 stores and plans to expand to 2,500 by 2022. With over 220 stores now using HFC-free technologies and a new goal for 100 more by the end of 2019, ALDI has emerged as the clear leader in adopting environmentally friendly refrigeration in the United States.
“ALDI is deeply committed to reducing its refrigerant emissions and believes natural refrigerants are the best long-term solution for the planet. To put this value into practice, ALDI has adopted transcritical CO2 refrigeration systems in many of its new and remodeled stores and targets 100 more in 2019. We are excited to continue to drive forward change with this commitment to hydrofluorocarbon reduction and natural refrigeration systems.”
Specific actions taken by ALDI U.S.:
Installing transcritical CO2 systems in over 220 stores with a new target to add 100 more stores in 2019. This reduces carbon emissions and makes ALDI a leading grocery retail user of CO2 refrigeration systems. Many of the company’s transcritical CO2 systems are located in California, where warmer climates require use of an adiabatic condenser to maintain energy efficiency.
Certifying over 160 stores as GreenChill Platinum as of December 2018 with the intention of certifying all transcritical CO2 systems in 2019.
Employing ammonia refrigeration systems in all warehouses, a natural refrigerant with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of zero.
Self-contained equipment in over 900 stores is running on propane, another natural refrigerant with a low GWP.
ALDI is phasing out high-GWP refrigerants including R404A.
ALDI is upgrading to all LED lighting, during the store remodel program in order to further mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. As of 2018, 72% of ALDI stores have interior LED lighting.
Expanding the use of clean, solar energy to include rooftop systems on nine distribution centers and 99 stores, minimizing energy consumption from the grid.
From EARTH with John Holden press release: “John Holden heads to upstate New York, where we meet a grocery store chain that is leading the way in eliminating super-pollutant hydrofluorocarbons [HFCs] in refrigerating food. ALDI, with its more than 1800 stores across the country, has adopted transcritical CO2 refrigeration systems in many of its grocery stores- as well as electricity generated by rooftop solar farms to run its 9 distribution centers and neighborhood stores. ALDI shows us how its national commitment to hydrofluorocarbon reduction- and adopting natural refrigeration systems- has made it a clear leader in environmentally friendly refrigeration.”
Whole Foods
Whole Foods operates about 500 retail locations in the U.S. The company has been a leading adopter of low-GWP refrigeration technologies, piloting several unique system designs including transcritical CO2 systems, and CO2 cascade or secondary loop systems using either propane, ammonia, or a greatly reduced charge of HFCs as the primary refrigerant. The company has also adopted innovative energy saving technologies and design alongside low-GWP refrigerants to decrease the overall climate footprint of refrigeration. "For nearly 40 years since we opened our first store, Whole Foods Market has been committed to environmental sustainability, and finding new opportunities to reduce our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. We currently have 30 stores using low-GWP refrigeration systems including CO2, propane and ammonia and have adopted propane self-contained cases across the entire chain. We have seen great results from our low GWP projects to date and continue to invest in innovation, exploring new approaches to reducing HFCs while addressing the varying needs of food retail refrigeration.” -Aaron Daly, Principal, Global Director of Energy Management, Whole Foods Market
Specific actions taken by Whole Foods Market:
30 stores now utilize climate-friendly refrigeration systems employing low-GWP refrigerants in a central refrigeration system as a primary or secondary refrigerant
A flagship Whole Foods store in Brooklyn, NY is 100% HFC-free using a transcritical CO2 booster system and employs innovative heat reclaim and combined heat and power technologies making it about 60% more efficient than the average grocery store.
Self-contained cases using propane have been deployed across the entire network of stores
Active participant in the EPA’s GreenChill Partnership with 8 stores certified
Target
Target operates over 1800 retail locations nationwide and is expanding its grocery offerings to customers. HFCs are integrated into Target’s corporate sustainability and greenhouse gas reduction strategy, including goals to increase energy efficiency of refrigeration systems. The company has committed to reducing HFC use and emissions by reducing leaks and adopting low-GWP refrigerants in food distribution centers, stand-alone refrigerated display cases, and large refrigeration systems.
Specific actions taken by target on HFCs:
Stand-alone refrigerated display cases using hydrocarbons have been installed in more than 1,000 Target stores, making up more than 24% of Target’s self-contained inventory
All new refrigerated display cases less than 2,200 BTU/hour use hydrocarbon refrigerants, a policy that was integrated into the company’s energy consumption reduction strategy since the hydrocarbon display cases consume up to 50% less energy.
Low-GWP transcritical CO2 systems have been piloted in 2 stores in Marin City, CA and Minneapolis, MN
CO2 cascade systems, which significantly reduce the amount of HFCs used, are Target’s primary new market solution for large format stores
All five food distribution centers use low-GWP ammonia for cold storage
The company is an active participant in EPA’s Greenchill Partnership with 5 certified stores and achieved a 12.4% corporate emissions rate for refrigeration systems containing more than 50lbs
The company has converted over 100 stores to use lower GWP HFO blends and at least 56,000 pounds of ODS R22 refrigerant have been removed and replaced with lower GWP alternatives
Ahold Delhaize
Ahold Delhaize USA operates nearly 2,000 retail locations in the U.S. including under the Stop & Shop, Hannaford, Giant, and Food Lion banners. Ahold Delhaize USA’s parent company Ahold Delhaize recently announced a commitment to reduce average refrigerant GWP across its stores globally. Having already reached a goal of 2,437, the company aims to achieve an additional 9% reduction to 2,230 by 2020.
"We are committed to limiting our climate footprint, including taking steps to reduce HFCs used in cooling. Our company's global target to lower the average global warming potential of refrigerants in stores to 2,230 by the year 2020 reflects this commitment. We also continue to look for opportunities to use climate-friendly cooling technologies like those already employed in one Food Lion and three Hannaford stores in the U.S."
Specific actions taken by Ahold Delhaize USA:
In 2013, a Hannaford store in Turner, Maine was the first ever in the United States to adopt a transcritical CO2 refrigeration system. Since then the company has opened several additional stores using trasncritical CO2 and other low-GWP refrigerants
Actively participates as a member in the EPA’s GreenChill Partnership
Hannaford banner is recognized as a leader in energy efficiency efforts related to refrigeration including using open display case night covers, insulated doors on cold display cases, and installing LED lights in freezers and coolers
Sprouts Farmers Market
Sprouts Farmers Market operates over 300 stores across 19 states and plans to expand to open 13 new stores by the end of the 2019. Sprouts stands out as a leader for its high level of participation in the EPA GreenChill Partnership store certification program and its innovative adoption of energy efficiency enhancing technologies paired with low-GWP transcritical CO2 refrigeration systems.
"At Sprouts, we are committed to lowering HFC emissions from cooling by reducing leaks and piloting sustainable refrigeration technologies in stores. We continue to follow through on this commitment through our participation and certification of stores in EPA's GreenChill Partnership."
Specific actions taken by Sprouts:
Sprouts Woodstock is the first grocery store in North America to utilize CO2 ejection refrigeration technology, the most environmentally-friendly and energy efficient refrigeration system available. The cutting-edge technology uses naturally occurring CO2, completely eliminating HFCs, with an average of up to 10% energy savings each year
A committed participant in the EPA’s GreenChill Program, Sprouts has more than 80 GreenChill certified stores equivalent to nearly 30% of its stores, by far the highest participation rate of any U.S. retailer
Has installed LED lighting on all refrigerators and display cases increasing energy efficiency by up to 50%