How Meijer Beat Its Carbon Emissions Reduction Goal a Year Ahead of Schedule

In January 2022, Michigan-based retailer Meijer publicly committed to reducing its absolute carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2025. 

At that time, the retailer had already reduced its emissions by 17 percent since 2014, equivalent to a 30 percent reduction in the amount of carbon dioxide emitted per square foot. The company achieved this milestone despite opening more than 50 new stores and distribution centers across the Midwest during this period.

However, in September 2024, the company made a stunning announcement: it had already exceeded its 2025 goal, reducing emissions by 57 percent compared to 2018. Their success was largely fueled by a combination of investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency projects, and improved refrigerant management. 

The quick progress can also be attributed to “the great teamwork and collaboration within the Meijer sustainability, energy, and engineering teams, as well as strong leadership from Meijer,” says Erik Petrovskis, Director of Environmental Compliance and Sustainability at Meijer. 

Renewable Solar and Wind Energy Added to Energy Portfolio

In March 2022, Meijer signed a renewable energy power purchase agreement (VPPA) with developer Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions. The contract committed Meijer to purchase a portion of all energy generated by the Pisgah Ridge Solar project during its first 15 years of operation. The venture broke ground in 2021 in Navarro County, Texas on 1,800 acres of land and came online in March of 2023.

Each year, the project generates approximately 250,000 megawatt hours of energy, accounting for an estimated reduction of more than 103,000 metric tons of CO2e from Meijer’s operations. This is the equivalent of the amount of greenhouse gas emissions reduced by removing more than 20,000 vehicles from the road, or the carbon sequestered from 125,000 acres of U.S. forests.

In the same year, Meijer signed a renewable product purchase agreement (RPPA) with a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, from which Meijer purchased the majority of wind energy generated by the project. The project, Lacy Creek Wind Energy Center, began commercial operations in January 2023 and employs 108 wind turbines to generate approximately 800,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of energy annually for Meijer’s growing renewable energy portfolio.

Tackling the Challenge of Refrigerant Leaks

Proper refrigeration is essential for ensuring food sold at retail outlets is safely stored at the right temperature before customer purchase, but refrigerants can contribute significantly to global warming if they leak into the atmosphere. This is an ongoing issue for grocery retailers everywhere.

Meijer has focused on reducing its refrigerant leak rate since the early 2000s; in 2024, it stood at 7 percent, less than half of the 20 percent industry average. The retailer participates in the EPA’s GreenChill Program, a voluntary partnership with food retailers, refrigeration system manufacturers, and chemical manufacturers to reduce refrigerant emissions and decrease their impact on climate change. 

Meijer has achieved the lowest corporate-wide refrigerant emissions rate among all EPA GreenChill Program partners nationwide since 2020.

A Sound Business Strategy

For Meijer, sustainability isn’t treated like a nice-to-have – it’s embedded in the strategic decisions being made for the long-term future of the company.

“We integrate the principles of environmental sustainability into our daily operations, both as a sound business strategy and because it aligns with our values and mission of service to our communities,” says Petrovskis.