The Company marks the anniversary of the UN’s Montreal Protocol to phase out ozone depleting refrigerants
Sunbury, PA (September 16, 2021) – Weis Markets today reported more than 90 percent of its stores no longer use ozone-depleting refrigerants and that its distribution, manufacturing and support facilities have also transitioned away from the use of these refrigerants.
The United Nations (UN) adopted the Montreal Protocol in 1987 to phase out substances depleting the Earth’s ozone layer, which protects us from receiving harmful levels of the sun’s ultraviolet light, a known cause of skin cancer and cataracts. The Protocol is the only UN treaty to have been ratified by all 198 UN Member States.
Developed countries have banned the production and import of new HCFCs as of January 1, 2020, while developing countries are to complete the phase-out by 2030. To date, the Parties to the Protocol have phased out 98% of ozone-depleting substances globally compared to 1990 levels.
“Over the past fifteen years, as part of our work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Green Chill partnership, we’ve worked to reduce our store and facility refrigerant emissions, which deplete the ozone layer and contributes to climate change,” said R. Kevin Small, Weis Markets’ Vice President of Development. “We’ve done this by reducing refrigerant leaks and by switching from hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) refrigerants to less harmful alternatives. The UN’s Montreal protocol was an important first step in this process. We are also grateful to our store support, manufacturing and store associates who’ve helped us implement our refrigerant reduction program.”
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About Weis Markets
Founded in 1912, Weis Markets, Inc. is a Mid Atlantic food retailer operating 197 stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York West Virginia and Virginia. For more information, please visit: WeisMarkets.com or Facebook.com/WeisMarkets.