replacing HFCs with natural refrigerants worldwide today

Mexico ammonia chemical Montreal Protocol global warming 1234yf hydrocarbons Kyoto Protocol UN HFC climate EU CO₂ greenhouse gas refrigerant take action

Initially invented in Japan, hundreds of thousands of vending machines operating with natural refrigerant carbon dioxide (also called CO₂ or R-744) have to date been successfully applied worldwide, including in Europe.

The safe use and efficiency of CO₂ technology as well as its environmental credentials have led end-users to divert from climate damaging refrigerants used in their vending machines, such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). More end-users are expected to adhere to sustainable refrigeration practices. Hence, the number of CO₂ vending machines is expected to grow substantially in the years to come.

Concretely, the transition to CO₂ light commercial refrigeration will reduce the equipment's direct greenhouse gas emissions by 99% and improve its energy efficiency by up to 15% compared to HFCs.

The higher energy density of high-pressure CO₂ systems allows for reduced size of lines and components, hence reducing waste at the end of life of the equipment.

BeyondHFCs is calling upon EU policy makers involved in the eco-design process to take the facts described in this position into account for the purposes of shaping new rules in this field.

To download BeyondHFCs position paper on CO₂ vending machine click here.