United States Supermarket Scorecard 2026

The 2026 edition of the biennial Climate-Friendly Supermarkets Scorecard assesses the largest U.S. supermarket chains on their actions to reduce emissions of super pollutant hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) used as refrigerants. Each company is scored on actions in three categories of technology adoption, refrigerant management, and policy & commitments. For more information, visit our scorecard FAQ page. 

  • This is EIA’s fourth scorecard and since 2020 we have seen a gradual improvement in the adoption of ultra-low GWP technologies, with supermarkets’ climate ambition often closely following regulatory requirements. Refrigerants with a 100-year global warming potential (GWP) <10 are defined as ultra-low, medium-GWP are between 150-1,400, and high-GWP are those above 1,400. 

    This year, discount food retailer ALDI remains at the top of the scorecard, showing climate-friendly cooling does not negatively impact consumer prices. Thirteen out of sixteen companies report that at least some of their stores use entirely ultra-low GWP refrigerants. ALDI accounts for the largest share at nearly 1,000 of these stores, making it the continued leader of the technology adoption category. These adoptions show that ultra-low GWP refrigeration technology is a proven, commercially viable solution for supermarkets, but rapid scaling across the sector must be a near-term priority given the significant emissions footprint of a typical supermarket’s direct expansion refrigeration equipment. 

    While six companies report 100% of their distribution centers, and five companies report over 50% of their distribution centers use entirely ultra-low GWP refrigerants, these have been the default standard within the cold storage and warehouse sector for decades due to efficiency and climate benefits. All retailers should already be using only ultra-low GWP refrigerants in their distribution centers. 

    On leak management, transparency remains an issue. Only four companies (ALDI, Target, Kroger, Meijer) disclose their annual average refrigerant leak rates for the U.S. While nine companies report being part of EPA’s GreenChill Partnership, in several cases only a small number of their stores appear to be certified as of July 19, 2024, the most recent update to the EPA map of certified Greenchill stores. Several companies reported that they have submitted additional stores to Greenchill for certification since 2024.

    Our 2024 scorecard noted that more food retailers were beginning to set goals to address refrigerant emissions and called for greater transparency on actions. In 2026, eleven companies have public commitments to reduce their use of high-GWP refrigerants, but few provide regular public updates on actions to reach these goals. Corporate commitments alone do not reduce emissions without company-wide implementation and regular, public updates on progress.

    Beyond corporate commitments, a strong regulatory framework is essential to close gaps in refrigerant transition targets and hold companies to the same standard. EPA’s regulatory requirements for using lower-GWP refrigerants in new equipment in the retail food sector were rolled back in May 2026 based on claims of a few grocery chains. However, the global market, including North America, is already investing in climate-friendly technologies that are more energy efficient and widely available. Approximately 3,460 food retail stores in the U.S. are using transcritical CO2 systems and 4.2 million standalone units (or equipment) using propane (R-290) are installed in food retail stores (an increase of 23% and 10% respectively since 2024) as per ATMO in 2025. The U.S. food retail sector should rapidly build on the existing progress of its early leaders and accelerate the transition before more HFC-dependent systems are locked in for decades to come. 

Technology Adoption
68%

Refrigerant Management
46%

Policy & Commitments
88%

ALDI continues to lead in ultra-low GWP technology adoption among the scored companies. It reports that more than 10% of its stores use only ultra-low GWP refrigerants, including hundreds of stores using CO2 refrigeration systems, while over half of its stores currently use medium-GWP refrigerants. All new standalone equipment installations use ultra-low GWP refrigerants. The company reports over 700 stores to EPA’s GreenChill program. ALDI has the most ambitious public commitment among food retailers to transition all U.S. stores to “natural refrigerants,” such as propane (R-290) and CO2 (R-744), before the end of 2035. It can improve its score by reducing annual average leak rate on its fluorinated gas systems.

Percentage change from 2024 score: -2% (Reductions in scorecard weighting* of mid-GWP technology adoption were nearly offset by increases to scores in policy and commitments for ultra-low GWP use)

Technology Adoption
50%

Refrigerant Management
27%

Policy & Commitments
63%

According to public information, between 4-7% of Whole Foods stores use entirely ultra-low GWP refrigerants and another 4-7% use some ultra-low GWP systems, while 44% of stores have been retrofitted from high- to medium-GWP refrigerants. Public information indicates the company uses ultra-low GWP refrigerants in standalone equipment and partners with North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC) to provide technician training on natural refrigerant systems. Whole Foods has committed, as of 2025, all new stores will be built “utilizing low GWP natural refrigerant systems”; however, public information is not available if the company is only using ultra-low-GWP (<10) refrigerants in new stores. Whole Foods can improve its score by publicly disclosing its annual average leak rate and setting a time-bound goal to transition existing stores to ultra-low GWP refrigerants.

Company did not respond to EIA’s scorecard information request and was scored entirely on publicly available information.

Percentage change from 2024 score: -5% (Whole Foods' score decreased slightly due to a reduction in scorecard weighting* of mid-GWP technology adoption)

Technology Adoption
44%

Refrigerant Management
27%

Policy & Commitments
50%

Ahold Delhaize reports that between 1-3% of its U.S. stores use entirely ultra-low GWP refrigerants, while 8-10% use some ultra-low refrigerants. The company is retrofitting stores from high- to medium-GWP refrigerants, and has committed to using only ultra-low GWP refrigerants in all new U.S. standalone equipment. It has “acknowledged the need” to continue investing in refrigerant upgrades and conversions, but has not set a time-bound HFC reduction target. Ahold Delhaize can improve by publishing a dedicated U.S. average annual leak rate and setting a time-bound commitment to transition to entirely ultra-low GWP refrigerants in its stores.

Percentage change from 2024 score: +22% (Owing to a higher number of confirmed stores with HFC-free refrigeration and improved commitments for ultra-low GWP use)

Technology Adoption
42%

Refrigerant Management
46%

Policy & Commitments
25%

Public information indicates that Target uses entirely ultra-low GWP refrigerants in approximately 6% of its stores and less than 1% of stores use some ultra-low GWP refrigerants. Based on public information, since 2020, Target uses only ultra-low GWP refrigerants in all new standalone equipment, with more than 50% of their standalone equipment now HFC-free. Target publicly discloses their corporate average leak rate, but the rate has increased from 2022 to 2024 up to 18.5%. Target could improve its score by reducing its annual average leak rate and providing updates on its goal to convert all stores to “natural, HFC-free refrigerants” by 2040.

Company did not respond to EIA’s scorecard information request and was scored entirely on publicly available information.

Percentage change from 2024 score: +1% (Improvement in technology adoption and improved commitments for ultra-low GWP use slightly offset by a rise in refrigerant leak rate)

Technology Adoption
36%

Refrigerant Management
36%

Policy & Commitments
63%

Kroger reports that slightly over 1% of its stores use ultra-low GWP refrigerants. Kroger states that it participates in refrigerant training initiatives and North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council. The company reports that it aims to build all new stores with CO2 refrigeration systems moving forward. Kroger can improve by setting a time-bound commitment to transition all stores to ultra-low GWP refrigerants and by providing more public information on its leak management practices.

Public information regarding Kroger’s refrigerant management practices remains unclear.

EIA is aware of a recent proposed settlement agreement between Kroger and the U.S. Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency to resolve alleged Clean Air Act violations - for further details, please click here.

Percentage change from 2024 score: +7% (Improvements in technology adoption and commitment to ultra-low GWP use)

Technology Adoption
38%

Refrigerant Management
32%

Policy & Commitments
31%

Public information indicates about 7% of Costco’s stores use entirely ultra-low GWP refrigerants, and 8% of stores have retrofitted their systems from high- to medium-GWP refrigerants. The company has partnered with the North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC) to develop technician training programs for CO2 systems. Costco could further improve on its current goal – to achieve a reduction of 30% in GWP for commercial refrigeration systems by 2030 – by setting a time-bound commitment to transition all stores to ultra-low GWP refrigerants and publicly reporting annual average leak rates.

Company did not respond to EIA’s scorecard information request and was scored entirely on publicly available information.

Percentage change from 2024 score: +11% (improvements in technology adoption and support for technician training)

Technology Adoption
18%

Refrigerant Management
68%

Policy & Commitments
31%

Meijer leads on refrigerant management with a reported average annual leak rate below 8% (versus EPA reported industry average of 25%). Meijer reports it does not have any stores that are completely HFC-free, although two of its stores have refrigeration systems that are HFC-free. Meijer has committed to using only ultra-low-GWP refrigerants in commercial refrigeration systems for all new stores as of 2035. The company has partnered with refrigeration manufacturer Hussmann to develop CO2 refrigerant training programs. Meijer also previously received EPA GreenChill’s Best Emissions Rate awards for four consecutive years. Meijer can improve its score by committing to immediate use of ultra-low GWP refrigerants in all new stores and publicly committing to phase out HFCs across existing stores.

Percentage change from 2024 score: -5% (A decrease in policy engagement, fewer GreenChill stores as of 2024, as well as a reduction in scorecard weighting* of mid-GWP technology adoption)

Technology Adoption
25%

Refrigerant Management
21%

Policy & Commitments
38%

According to public information, Walmart has one store that uses entirely ultra-low GWP refrigerants, while between 4-7% use some ultra-low GWP refrigerants. The company has not disclosed the refrigerants used in standalone equipment. While Walmart has announced large-scale store remodels, it has not publicly disclosed whether ultra-low GWP refrigerants will be used. Walmart can improve its score by committing to using ultra-low GWP refrigerants in all stores. Walmart has publicly committed to achieving zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2040, including from onsite refrigeration, but Walmart can improve its score by accelerating its use of ultra-low GWP refrigerants across all existing stores and providing further detail on implementation.

Company did not respond to EIA’s scorecard information request and was scored entirely on publicly available information

Percentage change from 2024 score: +2% (Improvement in leak rate)

Technology Adoption
27%

Refrigerant Management
21%

Policy & Commitments
25%

According to public information, less than 1% of Publix stores use entirely ultra-low GWP refrigerants, while approximately 7% use some ultra-low GWP. The company has committed to using ultra-low GWP propane refrigerant (R-290) in all new standalone equipment. Publix can improve its score by publicly disclosing its annual average refrigerant leak rate and setting a time-bound HFC phaseout target.

Company did not respond to EIA’s scorecard information request and was scored entirely on publicly available information.

Percentage change from 2024 score: -7% (No longer public reporting on average leak rate and slight change in scorecard weighting*)

Technology Adoption
35%

Refrigerant Management
0%

Policy & Commitments
6%

Public information indicates that approximately 6% of H-E-B stores use entirely ultra-low GWP refrigerants, including stores with CO2 refrigeration systems and one whole store using only standalone propane refrigeration systems. H-E-B could improve its score by making specific time-bound climate commitments, publicly disclosing its annual average refrigerant leak rate, and sharing a timeline to transition all stores to ultra-low GWP refrigerants.

Company did not respond to EIA’s scorecard information request and was scored entirely on publicly available information.

Percentage change from 2024 score: +12% (Improvements in technology adoption)

Technology Adoption
21%

Refrigerant Management
0%

Policy & Commitments
31%

Based on public information, less than 1% of Albertsons stores use entirely ultra-low GWP refrigerants, while an estimated 35% of stores have been retrofitted from high- to medium-GWP refrigerants. Albertsons is a founding partner of the North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC) Refrigeration Technician Recruitment, Advancement, Development, and Education (R-TRADE) program, which supports refrigerant technician recruitment and training. However, there is no public information on leak management and the company has a history of noncompliance issues, particularly in California. Albertsons can improve its score by setting an immediate commitment for all new stores to use entirely ultra-low GWP refrigerants and publishing its annual average leak rate.

Company did not respond to EIA’s scorecard information request and was scored entirely on publicly available information.

Percentage change from 2024 score: 0% (No actions or policies changed significantly. Reductions in scorecard weighting* of mid-GWP technology adoption were offset by increases to scores in policy and commitments)

Technology Adoption
15%

Refrigerant Management
0%

Policy & Commitments
44%

Giant Eagle provides limited public reporting on refrigerant practices. Based on prior disclosures, only 1-3% of stores use some ultra-low GWP refrigerants and no stores use entirely ultra-low GWP systems, while 4-7% of stores have been retrofitted from high- to medium-GWP refrigerants (based on company response in 2022). The company has reported using leak detection systems in supermarkets but does not publicly disclose annual average leak rates or a time-bound HFC phaseout target. Giant Eagle can improve by setting a time-bound commitment to transition all stores to ultra-low GWP refrigerants and publish its annual average leak rate.

Company did not respond to EIA’s scorecard information request and was scored entirely on publicly available information.

Percentage change from 2024 score: -2% (No actions or policies changed significantly)

Technology Adoption
23%

Refrigerant Management
0%

Policy & Commitments
0%

Trader Joe’s provides very limited public information regarding refrigerant management and climate impacts broadly. Based on what is publicly available, between 1-3% of stores use entirely ultra-low GWP refrigerants. The company could improve transparency by setting a time-bound HFC phaseout target and publicly reporting its annual average leak rate.

Company did not respond to EIA’s scorecard information request and was scored entirely on publicly available information.

Percentage change from 2024 score: -4% (Decreased public information on ultra-low GWP technology adoption)

Technology Adoption
24%

Refrigerant Management
0%

Policy & Commitments
0%

According to public information, Wegmans has one store using entirely ultra-low GWP refrigerants, and 4-7% of stores use some ultra-low GWP refrigerants. Between 1-3% of Wegmans’ standalone equipment uses ultra-low GWP refrigerants. Wegmans can improve its score by setting a time-bound public commitment to transition all stores to HFC-free technology, and publicly disclosing its annual average leak rate and refrigerants used in its stores.

Company did not respond to EIA’s scorecard information request and was scored entirely on publicly available information.

Percentage change from 2024 score: +4% (Improvements in technology adoption)

Technology Adoption
21%

Refrigerant Management
11%

Policy & Commitments
0%

Wakefern provides limited public information on refrigerant practices. Based on publicly available information, nearly 4% of stores use entirely ultra-low GWP refrigerants and less than 1% use some ultra-low GWP systems. The company does not publicly disclose which refrigerant(s) are used for standalone equipment or distribution centers. Wakefern can improve its score by publishing its annual average leak rate and by setting a time-bound target to phase out HFCs.

Company did not respond to EIA’s scorecard information request and was scored entirely on publicly available information.

Percentage change from 2024 score: +9% (Improvements in technology adoption and GreenChill certification)

Technology Adoption
0%

Refrigerant Management
0%

Policy & Commitments
0%

Winn-Dixie provides little public reporting on refrigerant management practices. The company has not publicly disclosed information on refrigerant technologies, emissions, or leak rates. Winn-Dixie uses ultra-low GWP refrigerants in 0% of its stores. Winn-Dixie could improve its score by setting a time-bound commitment to transition all stores to ultra-low GWP refrigerants and publicly reporting annual average leak rates.

Company did not respond to EIA’s scorecard information request and was scored entirely on publicly available information.

Percentage change from 2024 score: -1% (No public commitment to reduce use of high-GWP refrigerants)

*Updates to the 2026 Scorecard:

To reflect changes in both the regulatory landscape, including the AIM Act provisions to phase down HFC consumption and the scope of available technology, the 2026 scorecard made slight adjustments to the weight assigned to certain categories. Specifically, there was a decreased emphasis (fewer points available) for adopting mid-GWP refrigeration technology that does not meet the necessary ambition to transition away from HFCs entirely. Similarly, fewer points were available for the use of ultra-low GWP standalone equipment, which has been widely available for decades. This 2026 scorecard also rewards refrigerant management and policy & corporate commitments at a higher rate than in the past. Increased emphasis (higher points available) is placed on a retailer’s rapid transition away from HFC refrigerants and refrigeration technology in new and retrofitted stores. The scorecard also recognizes retailers’ efforts to promote service technician training on the installation and maintenance of alternative refrigeration technologies. While scoring changed slightly across categories, the total points possible remains the same as previous editions.

Call to Action

Given the significant global warming impact of HFCs, EIA is calling for all supermarkets to: 

  1. Develop a strategy to fully phase out all HFCs in stores by 2035, including an interim target to reduce HFC emissions by 50% by 2030.  

  2. Immediately use only HFC-free refrigeration in all new builds and major retrofits.

  3. Immediately use only recycled and reclaimed refrigerants to service all existing equipment that uses HFCs.

  4. Reduce corporate average refrigerant leak rate to EPA GreenChill best in class rate of <5% and publish progress towards this goal.

  5. Go beyond federal leak repair requirements by implementing upgrades to leak monitoring and repair best practices for all refrigeration systems, including a zero-leak tolerance policy which requires leaks to be repaired prior to adding more refrigerant, and a plan to ensure company-wide enforcement.

  6. Make public commitments or goals to reduce HFC use and emissions and proactively engage with stakeholders in industry and policy settings to further advance ambitious HFC reduction policies and accelerate adoption of HFC-free technologies.       

  7. Reduce the overall climate footprint of their cooling including through energy efficiency measures and easy-but-impactful steps like adding doors or night shades to open cases, upgrading to LED lighting, and reducing leaks.

  8. Enhance transparency by regularly publishing information quantifying current refrigerant emissions, all actions taken to adopt technology, reduce leaks, increase efficiency, as well as stating measurable future commitments to reduce HFC use and emissions.

Parent Companies | Brands and Subsidiaries

Ahold Delhaize | Giant | Food Lion | Hannaford | Martin's | Stop and Shop | Albertsons | Albertsons | Albertsons Market | ACME | Amigos | Andronic’s Community Market | Carrs | Haggen | Jewel Osco | Lucky | Market Street | Pavilions | Plated. | Randalls | Safeway | Safeway Community Markets | Shaw’s | Star Market | Tom Thumb | United Express | United Supermarkets | Vons | Giant Eagle | Giant Eagle | Market District | H-E-B | H-E-B | H-E-B plus | Central Market | Mi Tienda | Joe V’s Smart Shop | Kroger | Kroger | Baker’s | City Market | Copps | Dillons | Food 4 Less | Foods Co | Fred Meyer | Fry’s | Gerbes | Harris Teeter | King Soopers | Jay C Food Store | Owens Market | Pay-Less Super Markets | QFC - Quality Food Center | Ralphs | Smith’s Food and Drug | Mariano's | Metro Market | Pick’n Save | Roundys | Ruler Foods | Publix | Publix | Greenwise Market | Southeastern Grocers (SEG) | Bi-Lo | Harveys Supermarket | Fresco y Mas | Winn Dixie | Wakefern | Shoprite | Price Rite Marketplace | The Fresh Grocer | Dearborn Market | Gourmet Garage
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