Meijer recognized by EPA for GreenChill program’s low refrigerant emissions

For the fourth consecutive year, Meijer has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's GreenChill program for having the lowest corporate-wide refrigerant emissions rate out of all GreenChill Partners nationwide over the past year. 

As an active participant in the EPA's program since 2012, the Midwest retailer focused on reducing its refrigerant leak rate, which is below the industry average of 25%.

"At Meijer, we remain committed to adopting effective refrigeration technologies and environmental best practices into our everyday operations, which significantly helps us reduce our carbon footprint," said Vik Srinivasan, chief administrative officer for Meijer. "We remain incredibly proud of achieving our industry-leading 2025 carbon emissions reduction goal a year early. Continually reducing our refrigerant emissions was a key part of that achievement."

The EPA's GreenChill program is a voluntary partnership with food retailers, refrigeration system manufacturers, and chemical manufacturers to reduce refrigerant emissions and decrease their impact on the ozone layer and climate change. 

GreenChill provides supermarkets and other industry stakeholders with information and assistance to transition to environmentally friendlier refrigerants, reduce the amount of refrigerant they use and eliminate refrigerant leaks. Implementing enviroReducing refrigerant emissions was key to the Midwest retailer achieving its broader emissions reduction goal a year early.

[Read more: Meijer achieves carbon emissions reduction goal ahead of schedule]

"Meijer should be extremely proud of achieving GreenChill's Best Emissions Rate among large food retail Partners for the fourth year in a row," said Bella Maranion, senior advisor in EPA's Stratospheric Protection division and member of the GreenChill Team. "This accomplishment proves that dedication pays off."