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EPA Recognizes Regional Supermarkets for Using Environmentally-Friendly Refrigeration

Release Date: 09/20/2011
Contact Information: Bonnie Smith, smith.bonnie@epa.gov, 215-814-5543

PHILADELPHIA (Sept. 20, 2011) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced its 2011 GreenChill partner award winners – supermarket chains that are helping the environment by using environmentally-friendly refrigeration methods to reduce harm on the Earth’s ozone layer and lessen climate change. EPA’s GreenChill winners include well-known markets in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

SUPERVALU, which operates ACME Markets, Farm Fresh, and Shoppers Food & Pharmacy, earned GreenChill’s superior goal achievement. Whole Foods won EPA’s top award for most improved reductions in refrigerant emissions.

“As EPA GreenChill partners, these grocers are demonstrating their corporate responsibility and environmental commitment in the communities they serve,” said EPA mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “More stores should follow their lead in helping to improve the health of our communities by reducing pollution.”

Supermarkets who are GreenChill partners use more environmentally-friendly refrigerants, reduce the amount of refrigerants they use, eliminate refrigerant leaks, adopt green refrigeration technologies and are more energy-efficient.

EPA recognizes SUPERVALU with its superior goal achievement award for meeting the company’s challenging emissions reduction goal over the past year. Although GreenChill partners achieve emission rates well below national averages, the partners go further by setting ambitious, tough-to-achieve annual goals to continuously improve their performance.

Whole Foods won the most improved emissions rate award for the second time since 2007, the start of the GreenChill program. This award acknowledges the GreenChill partner with the most dramatic reduction in its corporate refrigerant emissions rate from the previous year. The company’s efforts to stop refrigerant leaks led to a 17 percent reduction in one year.

More than 7,300 stores nationwide – 20 percent of the supermarket industry – are taking steps to help the environment through EPA’s GreenChill partnerships. More information on EPA’s GreenChill Partnership is available at www.epa.gov/greenchill.