HFCs are hydrofluorocarbon gases with high global warming potential and long atmospheric permanence. In Europe, the F-Gas regulation, which came into force in 2015, established that they should be phased out by 2030, but illegal imports make it difficult to achieve the 80% reduction target by that date. The environmental impact of these gases is represented in kg of CO2 emitted. For example, each kilo of R-134A gas emitted is equivalent to 1,200 tonnes of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere, and 1 kg of R-404 is equivalent to about 4,000 tonnes of CO2, according to industry sources.  

These are also present in homes, offices and cars, but, as ECODES points out, it is the large-scale distribution sector, that of supermarkets, which has to make the greatest efforts in the transition to climate-friendly technologies. 

We demand that supermarkets at least make efforts to invest in and commit to more environmentally friendly alternatives such as natural refrigerants, adopt technologies with low warming power (Global warming power GWP) or at least reduce refrigerant leakage, and gradually reduce HFCs in line with the EIA: 

In October 2014, the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) published its sixth and latest report called Chilling Facts: Closing the Doors on HFCs. in which it recommended that retailers should:

1. commit to installing only HFC-free systems in all new shops and renovations, statewide, including their food transportation systems and international operations;

2. Commit to a total phase-out by 2025 at the latest (the UK Government will ban the use of HFCs with a GWP above 2500 from 2020).

3. Install doors on all chiller and freezer units as standard.

4. Phase out HFCs with a GWP above 2500 in existing equipment as a priority.