EIA survey finds leaks at 50% of stores

USA: An undercover investigation claims to have detected HFC refrigerant leaks at 50% of supermarkets visited in Northern California.

The report released by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), Green America and YouthPower Climate Action is based on visits to Safeway, Kroger-owned Ralphs Grocery or Foods Co, the Save Mart Companies (including Lucky), Smart & Final, Walmart, in the Bay Area and Sacramento. 

The HFC refrigerant leaks were detected in 50% of the 28 stores investigated. Save Mart Companies (including Lucky) is said to have had leaks in 75% of stores visited. Leaks were found in half of the Safeway, Smart & Final, and Walmart stores visited for each company.

According to the EIA, Albertsons – parent company of Safeway – and Save Mart have both settled with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) numerous times between 2015 and 2024 for violations of the state’s Refrigerant Management Program (RMP), with penalties totaling nearly $7m. 

Previous Leaking Havoc investigations conducted by EIA of stores in the Washington, DC area and New York City claim to have found similar leak rates. 

Using a portable leak detector, the teams inspected each store’s retail area for refrigerant leaks and documented the concentration of refrigerant detected by the equipment in parts per million.

All concentrations detected above 2ppm were considered an indicator of a potential significant leak in a given store, as per guidance provided by the manufacturer of the leak detection equipment. Leaks detected ranged in concentration on the sales floor, with concentrations up to 60ppm.

Avipsa Mahapatra, climate campaign director at the EIA US, said: “Our investigations prove that dangerous, avoidable climate pollutants continue to seep unchecked from supermarkets. California has taken leadership action by creating a programme to track and regulate these refrigerant emissions. However, there’s an urgent need for further investment in robust enforcement to stop these leaking super pollutants from undermining our climate goals and public health.”

The report – Leaking Havoc in Northern California – is available here.

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