On September 25, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenChill Program honored nine leaders in supermarket and commercial refrigeration for their efforts to reduce environmental impacts. The recognition took place at the FMI – The Food Industry Association’s Energy and Store Development Conference in Baltimore.
“Our GreenChill partners are setting a prime example of what it means to be a corporate leader in sustainability,” said Paul Gunning, Director of EPA’s Office of Atmospheric Protection. “We are proud of our GreenChill partners and recognize their work, whose continued innovation is protecting public health and the environment today and for generations to come.”
GreenChill Partners exceed regulatory requirements by reducing refrigerant emissions. In 2024, over 13,500 supermarket stores were part of the GreenChill Partnership, representing 30% of U.S. stores. There were also more than 900 GreenChill certified stores nationwide, a 10% increase from the previous year. On average, these retailers have emissions rates about 11% lower than the industry average of 25%.
The EPA expressed gratitude to all participants in the Partnership and Store Certification Programs for leading environmentally friendly refrigeration practices.
This year’s recognized companies include:
**Best Corporate Emissions Rate**
- City Market, Onion River Co-op (Burlington, Vermont)
- Meijer (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
**Most Improved Emissions Rate**
- BriarPatch Food Co-op (Auburn and Grass Valley, California)
- Brookshire Grocery Company (Tyler, Texas)
**Exceptional Goal Achievement**
- Hy-Vee (Sycamore, Illinois)
- K-VA-T Food Stores/Food City (Abingdon, Virginia)
GreenChill’s Store Certification Program honors stores meeting strict performance criteria with minimal environmental impact from refrigeration systems.
**Store Leadership**
Target (San Antonio, Texas) completed a remodel using efficient cooling technology by installing a transcritical carbon dioxide system and an adiabatic gas cooler.
**Store Certification Excellence**
ALDI (Batavia, Illinois) led its peers by certifying all 611 stores at the highest Platinum-Level Certification.
Hillphoenix (Conyers, Georgia) was recognized for the twelfth consecutive year as the top commercial systems manufacturer with installations in GreenChill Certified Stores.
**Store Recertification Excellence**
ALDI achieved certification for 164 locations across multiple states for five consecutive years.
Target maintained certification for ten stores across several states for five consecutive years.
GreenChill is a voluntary partnership program aimed at reducing refrigerant emissions in collaboration with the food retail industry. Reducing leaks benefits both retailers financially and helps protect the environment from ozone-depleting substances and greenhouse gases. Participants also lead in adopting environmentally friendlier refrigerants and advanced technologies.
Since its inception in 2007, GreenChill has grown significantly with over one-third of U.S. food retail industry stores participating. The Store Certification Program has issued more than 5,200 annual certifications since it began in 2008.
Learn more about GreenChill and today’s recognition recipients.
