Last updated on December 6th, 2022 at 10:45 am
Salisbury, North Carolina-based Food Lion was honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with recognition from the GreenChill Program.
The Superior Goal Achievement honor is the result of Food Lion’s continued work to reduce the environmental impacts of commercial refrigeration systems across the retailer’s more than 1,100 stores.
Food Lion has taken many steps to reduce its refrigerant emissions, including placing doors on refrigerated cases and monitors on key refrigerant devices. These actions decreased the grocer’s carbon footprint while reducing the company’s operating costs.
Since 2000, Food Lion’s reductions in carbon emissions are equivalent to: upgrading 22.9 million incandescent lightbulbs to LED, driving 1.5 miles in an average passenger vehicle and charging 73.5 billion smartphones. It was one of the 10 founding partners of the EPA’s GreenChill Program in 2007.
“Since the beginning of the GreenChill Program 15 years ago, Food Lion has been a contributing and engaged partner,” said Kersey Manliclic, GreenChill program manager.
“We congratulate Food Lion on their Superior Goal Achievement. Their efforts are decreasing their impact on the ozone layer and climate change. It is another example of how Food Lion’s efforts are protecting the environment.”
In 2021, Food Lion announced new sustainability goals to reduce its carbon emissions by 50 percent from its own operations, in partnership with its parent organization Ahold Delhaize USA, while working with its suppliers to reduce emissions by 15 percent across the entire supply chain.
Earlier this year, the company became the only U.S. company to receive the EPA Energy Star Partner of the Year Award for 21 consecutive years.
“Food Lion continues to take bold action to reduce our carbon footprint and deliver our sustainability goals,” said Matt Yates, VP, brand strategy.
“We’re committed to this work as we strive to be the best neighbor we can for the towns and cities we serve. Food Lion believes that sustainability improves the quality of life for our neighbors, protects our ecosystem and preserves natural resources for future generations.”
The company also has set industry-leading sustainable sourcing standards, increased recycling to divert more waste from landfills and donated the equivalent of more than 970 million meals through its philanthropy program.
In 2000, it was the first grocery retailer in the U.S. to introduce a food rescue program with Feeding America. Before it perishes, food is donated to local hunger relief organizations to feed neighbors in need across the grocer’s 10-state footprint.
For more information, visit foodlion.com.
