In 2021, we have continued the replacement of natural gas heating equipment, and at the end of the year all REWE-owned stores were 100% equipped with electric heat pumps with a higher efficiency, which provide a reduction in GHS emissions. We managed to reduce the CO2 emissions generated by the use of gas for heating and hot water production by 17% by reference to 2020, and by 71% by reference to the benchmark year 2012. The main gas emissions depleting the ozone layer (Ozone-Depleting-Substances-ODS) are generated by the exploitation of conventional refrigeration installations. Whereas the food retail activity is based on refrigeration systems, PENNY is continuously working to use low GWP (Global Warming Potential) refrigerant agents. The greenhouse gas emissions generated by refrigeration systems are mainly the result of refrigerant agents used by them. In order to reduce the emissions, in 2018, PENNY decided to replace the R404a refrigerant agent from all its installations by the R449a refrigerant agent. At the end of 2021, 93% of the installation refrigerant was replaced. By this preventivemeasure, in 2021, we avoided the emission of 11 308.2 tonnes CO2 eq. The refrigeration system of the new logistics centres from Filiași is a NH3/CO2 cascade system, which creates an auxiliary refrigeration loop in the high temperature cycle in order to increase the subcooling in the low temperature cycle. It is an energy efficient system which uses two climate neutral cooling agents. In addition, the heat recovered with the high-pressure ammonia is used for heating the storage areas for vegetables and fruits. During the reporting period, the specific greenhouse gas emission (per square meter of sales area) of PENNY Romania have decreased. In 2021, the specific greenhouse gas emissions amounted to 357 kilograms CO2 eq. per square meter of sales area. These decreased by 4% by reference to the previous year. 2019 86% 2021 100% Degree of equipping own stores with electric heat pump heating systems 2020 91% CONTENT ABOUT PENNY SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY SUSTAINABILITY STEP BY STEP SUSTAINABLE ASSORTMENT ENERGY, CLIMATE AND RESOURCES EMPLOYEES AND SOCIETY REPORT ASSURANCE GRI & SASB INDEX
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