Target Corp. announced its latest sustainability partnership by joining the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) GreenChill program. This innovative partnership will further Target's efforts to reduce refrigeration emissions by adopting green refrigeration technologies in its stores.

"Target is excited to join the GreenChill partnership and extend our sustainability initiatives to the refrigeration systems in our stores," said Dan Riley, Vice President, Property Development Operations, Target. "We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint by forging new partnerships, achieving milestones in our business and progressing towards our sustainability goals. Today's announcement represents an important step in reducing Target's refrigeration emissions."

"GreenChill is very proud to welcome Target as its latest and largest food retail partner," said Keilly Witman, GreenChill Program Manager, EPA. "As Target expands its fresh food assortment throughout the nation, excellent refrigeration management will become more and more important for the company's environmental responsibility goals. Target's partnership with GreenChill is a commitment to the public that the company is protecting the environment during its expansion."

The GreenChill program will help Target achieve its environmental sustainability commitments by offering several benefits, including an industry benchmarking system and greater access to EPA research. During a press conference this afternoon at the Target store in Hudson, Wis., which uses the latest refrigeration technology, Target joined representatives from the EPA and Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) to announce the partnership.

"The GreenChill program is a great example of what can happen when businesses and the public sector work together to reduce the impact on our environment," said Kind. "These are important steps in making real progress toward conserving energy and I'm pleased to see these solution-driven initiatives working in our own backyard."

Target works with a variety of organizations to integrate sustainability throughout its business. In addition to GreenChill, Target is committed to earning the ENERGY STAR label for at least 75 percent of U.S. buildings by 2016 and is part of the EPA's SmartWay program to reduce transportation-related emissions. Target is also part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Retail Energy Alliance and a founding member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition that was announced earlier this year.