Carrefour has begun implementing CO2-based refrigeration systems in its store in order to reduce emissions. According to Accelerate Europe, the retail giant is phasing out its hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) based refrigeration in order to meet environmental targets.
Smaller Carrefour Express outlets will be the focus for the initial adoption of the natural refrigeration solutions.
The Carrefour Group is aiming to reduce carbon emissions by 40% by 2025 and by 70% by 2050 (compared to 2010 levels), as part of an environmental push against climate change.
In September of last year, Carrefour’s Belgian arm opened a Carrefour Express store fitted with a propylene water-based refrigeration fixture. The retailer has also introduced 'tri-temperature' trucks powered by natural gas in its fleet in Spain.
"Interesting Evolution"
Speaking to Accelerate Europe, Paolo Martini, Carrefour’s refrigeration & HVAC manager for international support said, “We’re seeing an interesting evolution in small CO2 systems."
Companies like Green & Cool, Advansor, Sanden and Panasonic are all beginning to offer CO2 condensing units in Europe."We’re interested in testing these systems," Martini said. "For smaller stores, we’re going to pilot and evaluate hydrocarbons and CO2 in parallel."
In the wake of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, Martini is convinced that Carrefour’s decision to divest from HFCs was the right one. The amendment commits nations to fight climate change by reducing use of HFCs. “Our strategy is to achieve the goal of HFC-free installations,” Martini said.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Peter Donnelly. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
