Why Stopping the Illegal Trade of Refrigerants is Important
Here at A-Gas, our approach is guided by the requirements set out in LRM: The 90 Billion Tonne Opportunity; to help ensure that “no kilogram or pound of refrigerant, once produced, is released into the atmosphere”.
Many refrigerant gases are either ozone-depleting substances (ODS) or have a high global warming potential (GWP), meaning that, if vented, they pose a significant threat to the environment.
A-Gas supports its customers by offering a complete Lifecycle Refrigerant Management (LRM) solution. However, the illegal trade of ODS and high-GWP refrigerants on the black market poses a considerable challenge to recovery and reclamation, and this activity is currently undergoing a spike.
Over recent months, authorities in the USA, Italy, Poland, Germany and the Netherlands have seized large amounts of illegally imported refrigerants.
So what is responsible for this recent increase in activity? Why is tackling this issue vital to the health of the environment? And how can the industry, alongside companies like A-Gas, provide an alternative to virgin products?
In the videos on this page, Chris Oravetz, Vice President of Operations for A-Gas in the Americas and Hans Craen, A-Gas’ Head of Government Affairs in Europe, answer these questions and more.
