Giant Co. Works to Reduce its Emissions
The Giant Co. is stepping up its environmental game.
The retailer says it has joined the GreenChill program, a voluntary U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) partnership with food retailers, refrigeration system manufacturers and chemical manufacturers to reduce refrigerant emissions and decrease their environmental impacts.
As a program partner, GreenChill provides The Giant Co. and other industry stakeholders with information and assistance to transition to environmentally-friendly refrigerants, reduce the amount of refrigerant they use, eliminate refrigerant leaks, implement environmental best practices and adopt green refrigeration technologies. There are more than 12,500 GreenChill partner stores throughout the country.
“From reducing waste across our operations and the sustainable sourcing of the products we sell to seeking out opportunities for energy efficiencies and creating pollinator habitats, healing the planet is something we take seriously at The Giant Co.,” said John Ponnett, SVP of retail operations for the food retailer. “Our partnership with GreenChill reinforces this commitment and highlights the steps we are taking to reduce refrigerant emissions from our stores and perishable distribution centers, helping to ensure a better tomorrow for the families we serve.”
The Giant Co. is currently performing refrigerant conversions, installing leak detectors and replacing older refrigeration units when possible within its nearly 190 stores.
“The GreenChill Partnership is thrilled to welcome The Giant Co.,” said U.S. EPA GreenChill Program Manager Kirsten Cappel. “By entering the Partnership, The Giant Co. joins exemplary leaders in the food retail industry who are committed to improving their refrigerant management practices and protecting the environment.”
Refrigerants used by supermarkets are harmful to the environment when emitted into the atmosphere; some harm the ozone layer, and most are very potent greenhouse gases. A typical supermarket leaks about 875 pounds of harmful refrigerant gas into the atmosphere every year. GreenChill partner stores have much lower leak rates than average stores in the U.S. If every supermarket reduces its leak levels to the GreenChill average, the supermarket industry could save more than $160 million in refrigerant replacement costs and reduce emissions by about 30 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent every year and 88 ozone depletion potential metric tons.
An omnichannel retailer serving millions of customers in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, The Giant Co. has more than 33,000 associates supporting nearly 190 stores, 132 pharmacies, 105 fuel stations, and 125-plus online pickup hubs and grocery delivery service across hundreds of ZIP codes. The Giant Co. is a company of Ahold Delhaize USA, No. 11 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer’s 2020 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America.
