Supermarket Scorecard 2020

ALDI emerges as a market leader scoring the highest overall points with over 300 HFC-free stores in operation. Continued increase in HFC-free stores, committing to use only HFC-free technologies in all new stores and remodels, and publicly sharing leak rates of high-GWP refrigerants would further improve their scores.

Whole Foods has tested unique alternative technologies and has numerous stores using natural refrigerants including CO₂ and Propane. Publicly sharing their refrigerant leak rate and setting time-bound measurable commitments to phase-out HFCs would further improve their scores.

Target's ranking is representative of their efforts across all three categories, with particularly high scores on refrigerant management and public commitments. To improve, Target could introduce more HFC-free technology in all new builds and store remodels.

Ahold Delhaize, with 5 US brands, has publicly committed to reducing the average global warming potential of their refrigerants and annually shares their corporate average leak rate. The company could expand on this progress by setting a more aggressive refrigerant GWP for 2025 and expanding HFC-free refrigeration in new store builds and remodels.

Publix has implemented a training program for its contractors and technicians to properly service their CO₂ equipment - an oft-cited barrier to introducing HFC-free technology. Publicly sharing how many stores have HFC-free technology in place and by setting public commitments to reduce the impact of their refrigeration would improve their scores.

Meijer achieves the highest score in refrigerant management, demonstrating best practice through a publicly disclosed leak rate of 8.6% and 8.5% for 2017 and 2018 repsectively, and active participation in EPA’s GreenChill Partnership. It could improve by adopting HFC-free technology and setting public refrigerant and climate commitments.

A few of Kroger’s 23 brands, such as Marianos and Pick-N-Save, have made progress in adopting HFC-free technologies. Kroger has set public commitments to reduce refrigerant leak rates for the past few years and has been transparent about challenges in reaching their goal. To improve, Kroger could make commitments like introducing HFC-free technology in all new builds and major remodels.

Although all Walmart distribution centers use low-GWP refrigerants, Walmart has yet to install a single HFC-free system in US stores. Adopting HFC-free technologies, joining EPA’s GreenChill Partnership, and following through on public commitments to reduce HFCs in the next decade would improve scores.

Albertsons, with its 23 brands, is a member of EPA’s GreenChill Partnership, yet the company does not publicly share information about refrigerant management practices or leak rate. Setting measurable and time-bound commitments to reduce their average refrigerant leak rate and sharing a plan to phase-out HFCs would improve their overall score.

H-E-B is actively involved in organizations that encourage the uptake of natural refrigerants and pioneered HFC-free micro-distributed technology in one store in Austin, TX. H-E-B can improve by setting refrigerant commitments, like reducing their leak rate or only purchasing HFC-free equipment, and sharing their annual refrigerant leak rate publicly.

Wakefern and its 5 brands, have introduced HFC-free standalone equipment, as well as few HFC-free stores. The company could improve by introducing and sharing more information on HFC-free equipment into their main systems and by joining EPA’s GreenChill partnership.

Wegmans has two stores certified platinum under EPA’s GreenChill Partnership, but is not an active member of the partnership. The company could increase its score by joining EPA GreenChill and implementing HFC-free technology throughout their stores.

Costco is yet to introduce a single known HFC-free store, although the majority of Costco distribution centers use HFC-free cooling. In 2014, Costco non-compliance with the Clean Air Act resulted in an EPA settlement. Greater transparency about their annual leak rate and setting time-bound measurable goals to reduce HFCs in their stores would improve scores.

With no confirmed HFC-free refrigeration to-date, Giant Eagle could improve by increasing adoption of HFC-free technology, and incorporating HFC commitments into their sustainability plans. Although they achieved low leak rates in 2008 they did not receive credit since this has not been recently disclosed.

Southeastern Grocers, with its 4 banners, has yet to take any public steps to reduce HFC emissions except for some banners joining EPA’s GreenChill Partnership despite a recent EPA settlement for violating the Clean Air Act on refrigerant leaks.

Trader Joe’s has made no public signal of progress on refrigerant management or adoption of HFC-free technology, despite a 2016 EPA settlement in which Trader Joe’s violated the Clean Air Act by leaking ozone depleting substances.