EIA calls for more action from rac industry
The Environmental Investigation Agency has thrown down the gauntlet to supermarkets and to their rac supply chains following the publication of its second Chilling Facts report.
The campaigning group praised the commitment of some retailers to phase out HFCs altogether by 2030, but called for the bar to be raised with an earlier deadline.
Campaign leader Fionnuala Walravens said: “We think that the technology is there for them to do it more quickly, which is why we are calling for a phase-out by 2015. The supermarkets are doing well at the moment, so we don’t see why they shouldn’t devote more resources to what is a very serious issue.”
The EIA believes that industry should do everything it can to avoid accelerating climate change, and that HFCs’ global warming impact should make their phase-out a priority.
The EIA is calling specifically calling for the supermarkets “to lobby the refrigeration industry to be more proactive” over the take-up of natural refrigeration.
Ms Walravens said: “The supermarkets say that they are dependent on their supply chains, but they are in a very good position to speed up the process.”
At the same time, the EIA promised to turn its attention to the supermarkets’ HVAC systems in its future work, alongside its refrigerated transport.
EIA’s ‘Call for Action’
- Make a commitment to have fully phased out HFCs by 2015
- Immediately use HFC-free refrigeration in all newbuilds and major refits
- Phase out HFCs in all in-store air conditioning systems and refrigerated transport
- Encourage government action to phase out HFCs in supermarkets
- Lobby the refrigeration industry to be more proactive on this issue
Retailers and suppliers will be discussing this and the impact of Chilling Facts amongst other subjects atRAC’s Retail Question Time on 25 February. See HERE for details.
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