Walmart still has a major climate leak — and it’s worse than before.

Not only is the problem still happening — the leak we just found in 2026 was larger than every leak we detected at the stores we tested during our 2024 investigation.

Walmart’s refrigerators use potent super-pollutant gases, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), that when leaked accelerate the climate crisis because HFCs trap thousands of times more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.

Eliminating HFCs and adopting climate-friendly refrigerants is a top solution to address the climate crisis that can prevent nearly half a degree of global warming.

Thanks to pressure from Green Americans like you, large supermarket chains are taking small steps on refrigerants but need to do much more when compared to small chains that have taken major steps!

Grocery chains know what they need to do. But with the current White House slashing environmental regulations it will be up to us to hold companies accountable.

Walmart needs to hear from you. Tell Walmart they must act now.

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Tell Walmart: Get HFCs Out of Your Fridges

CEO

John

Furner

Walmart

CSO

Kathleen

McLaughlin

Walmart

{contact_data~title} {contact_data~firstName} {contact_data~lastName},
{contact_data~organization}

I am writing to you to urge your company to address hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) emissions through better refrigerant management and elimination of HFCs in your refrigeration systems.  

These harmful, human-made gases are leaking out of your refrigeration systems and rapidly entering our atmosphere.  

As recent research by Green America, along with state data, shows HFCs are leaking out of your company’s stores. Eliminating HFCs and adopting climate-friendly refrigerants is a top solution to address the climate crisis that can prevent nearly half a degree of global warming. Better cooling systems can help prevent 460 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions over the next four decades. 

By continuing to leak refrigerant gases, your company is taking on unnecessary costs for your business. Beyond the sunk cost of refrigerants leaking out, supermarkets are susceptible to legal action and penalties for noncompliance with refrigerant laws. 

The climate crisis is actively harming communities and ecosystems worldwide and threatening hundreds of millions of lives, especially those without the resources needed to recover from major climate-related weather events.  

The grocery industry must play a major role in mitigating climate change and one of the best ways to do that is to reduce HFC leaks now and adopt ultra-low global warming potential (GWP) natural refrigerant systems for all your stores. I join Green America in asking your company to: 

-Implement upgrades for leak monitoring and repair best practices, including a zero-leak tolerance policy which requires leaks to be repaired prior to adding more refrigerant and set leak detection systems to trigger an alarm at leaks of 2 parts per million (ppm) throughout stores; 

-Reduce corporate average refrigerant leak rate to EPA GreenChill best-in-class rate of <5% and publish progress towards this goal; 

-Institute criteria to retire and replace chronically leaking systems exceeding a 25% leak rate; 

-Publicly commit to use ultra-low natural GWP refrigerants (<10 GWP) in all new stores and retrofits and to develop a plan to phase out use of HFCs by 2035, with an interim target to heavily reduce HFC emissions by 2030; 

-Not adopt HFOs as a false solution.  HFOs break down into forever chemicals that harm human health and the environment; 

-Reduce the overall climate footprint of cooling including through energy efficiency measures and easy-but-impactful steps, like adding doors or night shades to open cases, upgrading to LED lighting, and reducing leaks; 

-Enhance transparency by regularly publishing information quantifying current refrigerant emissions, all actions taken to adopt technology, reduce leaks, increase efficiency, as well as stating measurable future commitments to reduce use and emissions. 

Ultra-low GWP refrigerants and equipment to monitor leaks in stores are commercially available and cost effective and have been used successfully by many of your competitors. You must take steps to protect the communities you serve from the serious effects of climate change.  

Action is needed now – your employees, communities, and the environment cannot wait.

Sincerely,
{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}

Your first and last name will be used as a sign-off on the letter.

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Sincerely,

John Smith

Cool It for the Climate

Walmart is leaking climate pollutants!

With no action from the current occupant of the White House, we must hold massive companies like Walmart accountable for their climate impacts.

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Tell Walmart: Get HFCs Out of Your Fridges

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