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Sainsbury’s, one of Britain's largest supermarket chains, has announced plans to cut its carbon footprint by a third by 2030 – by investing in new fridge technology.
The company will initially phase out its old fridges, which use pollutants pumped through the fridges to cool them down, in 135 of its 800 outlets by 2014. Instead of so-called F-gases, the retailer will use carbon dioxide, which is less polluting.
Sainsbury’s says that if all UK supermarkets followed suit, their combined annual carbon emissions would be reduced by the equivalent of the annual emissions of 350,000 households.
Justin King, chief executive of Sainsbury’s, said: ‘Fridges are by far and away the biggest source of carbon dioxide emissions in any supermarket, through both the energy required to power them and the refrigerants themselves.’
Mike Childs, campaign director for Friends of the Earth, said: "We welcome the initiative – it's a big step for Sainsbury's.’ He added, however, that ‘supermarkets’ carbon footprint extends far beyond their stores.
The company will initially phase out its old fridges, which use pollutants pumped through the fridges to cool them down, in 135 of its 800 outlets by 2014. Instead of so-called F-gases, the retailer will use carbon dioxide, which is less polluting.
Sainsbury’s says that if all UK supermarkets followed suit, their combined annual carbon emissions would be reduced by the equivalent of the annual emissions of 350,000 households.
Justin King, chief executive of Sainsbury’s, said: ‘Fridges are by far and away the biggest source of carbon dioxide emissions in any supermarket, through both the energy required to power them and the refrigerants themselves.’
Mike Childs, campaign director for Friends of the Earth, said: "We welcome the initiative – it's a big step for Sainsbury's.’ He added, however, that ‘supermarkets’ carbon footprint extends far beyond their stores.
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