Achieving Sustainability

There is an increased focus on sustainability in the world today, and the grocery and food service industries are being hit especially hard. We are seeing more and more regulations being introduced to control the energy use and carbon footprint left by this industry; and there is a valid reason why.

Grocery stores and foodservice have the highest rate of energy consumption per square foot and refrigeration accounts for 44 to 62% of energy consumption. Optimizing your refrigeration system can reduce energy use by 20%.

Additionally, a typical supermarket’s refrigeration system has an average annual leak rate of about 25%. These leaks cost the average supermarket $5,000 per location plus associated repair costs, and may lead to down systems and loss of product or customers. The refrigerants are also potent greenhouse gases, which can contribute to your store’s total carbon footprint.

This is why regulations like the 2001 Energy Star requirements, the 2005 Energy Policy Act and the EPA’s GreenChill partner program are being introduced to drive sustainability to the marketplace.

And, if passed, the 2009 Clean Energy & Security Regulations will also significantly impact the industry by requiring new construction to exceed ASHRAE 90.1 by 30% immediately, and 50% by 2015. With new regulations like this one in the pipeline, you need to ensure your business is operating sustainably now.

Consumer Interests

There is a growing consumer interest in buying from businesses engaged in sustainability initiatives.

In fact, according to the Food Marketing Institute’s U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends 2009 report, 60% of consumers surveyed said it is important for supermarkets to have recycling and sustainability initiatives. In addition, 19% of consumers said this is a very important factor when selecting their primary store.

Another 2009 study done by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and Deloitte shows that 54% of shoppers actively consider environmental sustainability characteristics in their buying decisions.