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Aldi recognized by EPA for sustainable refrigeration

Grocery chain wins award for GreenChill store certifications

Russell Redman

September 24, 2019

2 Min Read
Aldi store photo - Copy.JPG
Photo by Russell Redman

Aldi U.S. has received a 2018 Store Certification Excellence award from the Environmental Protection Agency's GreenChill Partnership as the grocery retailer with the most GreenChill store certifications in the past year.

The Batavia, Ill.-based hard discount grocer said Tuesday that the award recognizes its efforts to promote sustainable refrigeration in its U.S. stores, which now number more than 1,900 in the United States. Through June 2019, the chain had 238 GreenChill store certifications and recertifications nationwide, with the locations receiving the highest-level Platinum ratings.

"Over the last year, Aldi has transitioned to natural refrigerants (CO2) in hundreds of stores as part of our journey toward environmentally sustainable refrigeration systems," Aaron Sumida, vice president at Aldi, said in a statement. "This recognition from the GreenChill Partnership is an important celebration of our journey as we continue to make strides in reducing our carbon emissions and finding innovative renewable solutions."

Aldi frozen seafood veggies.JPGThe EPA's GreenChill Partnership aims to help supermarkets migrate to more eco-friendly refrigerants, reduce harmful carbon emissions, and adopt greener refrigeration technologies and environmental best practices to lower their impact on the ozone layer and climate change.

Related:Aldi steps up plastics reduction

Aldi received its first GreenChill certification in 2015. For a store to qualify for GreenChill certification, it must meet the partnership's criteria on the type of refrigerants used, refrigerant emissions and refrigerant charge. The grocer noted that its Store Certification Excellence award signifies the company’s commitment to meet the high sustainability standards.

"If every supermarket reduced its leak levels to the GreenChill average, the supermarket industry could reduce emissions by about 30 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent every year," commented Tom Land, manager of EPA's GreenChill program. "The Store Certification Excellence award not only demonstrates the breadth of corporate responsibility efforts at ALDI, but a commitment to environmentally sustainable refrigeration systems."

Aldi said the company is making its U.S. supermarkets more environmentally friendly as part of a five-year, $5 billion-plus capital investment in new and remodeled stores. These stores feature eco-friendly building supplies, such as recycled materials, energy-saving LED lighting, and energy-efficient refrigerated systems and HVAC units.

Along with GreenChill-related actions with refrigeration systems, Aldi has cut carbon emissions via increased use of solar energy. The company said that, in 2018, solar production at Aldi prevented the release of CO2 emissions equal to those created by an average car driving across the U.S. 12,427 times, or burning 15.6 million pounds of coal.

Related:Aldi firing on all cylinders

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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