American retailers lag behind in adopting environmentally friendly HFC-free technology

The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has accused US supermarkets of a lack of transparency and slow adoption of HFC-free refrigeration technology. In their latest Climate-Friendly Supermarket Scorecard, the EIA rates supermarkets on their adoption of technology, management of refrigerants, and policies and commitments related to sustainability.

Out of the sixteen companies evaluated, only three received passing scores according to the EIA. The report states that eleven companies have less than 1% of their stores using entirely ultra-low GWP refrigerants, which have a Global Warming Potential under 10. Aldi, Whole Foods, and Target received the highest overall scores in the report, with Aldi leading in technology adoption.

Aldi has the most HFC-free stores compared to any competitor and has been praised for publicly sharing their plans to eliminate the use of HFCs. However, despite some companies making commitments to reduce emissions, many are still using and leaking harmful pollutants.

Giant Eagle, Meijer, and Southeastern Grocers have yet to install HFC-free refrigeration in any of their stores, while Walmart has only installed ultra-low GWP refrigerants in one store. The lack of transparency and slow adoption of climate-friendly technology by these companies is concerning given the current climate crisis according to the EIA.

Meijer was the best performer in terms of leak rate, reporting a 6.5% annual leak rate compared to the estimated sector average of 25%. Overall, the EIA’s report serves as a wake-up call for US supermarkets to prioritize sustainability and adopt more environmentally friendly refrigeration technologies.