EIA’s Chilling Facts Campaign

Chilling Facts : promoting HFC-free cooling from

niche to mainstream

Clare Perry

Environmental Investigation Agency

Montreal, 8 December 2012

Outline

• About EIA

• Background to the campaign

• Chilling Facts 1 – IV, main findings

• Lessons learned

• Information sharing

• Feedback

• Looking to the future

About EIA

• Established in 1984, London and Washington DC

• Independent campaigning organisation committed to bringing about change that protects the natural world from environmental crime and abuse.

• Campaigns: Illegal trade in wildlife (tigers, elephants, whales), illegal timber trade

• Investigating illegal trade in ozone depleting substances (ODS) since 1997

• Closely involved in international ozone and climate negotiations for 15 years

Background to the campaign - 2007

• Accelerated phase-out of HCFCs agreed under Montreal Protocol, recognised growth of HFCs

• EIA and other NGOs called for phase-out of HFCs at the 2007 Bali UNFCCC meeting

• Leading UK supermarkets announced intention to move away from HFCs

• EIA started to examined the use of HFCs in the UK supermarket sector

Chilling Facts 2009-2012

Chilling Facts 2009

• Survey sent to 11 UK supermarkets, 7 responded

• Limited momentum within the industry

• HFCs not in the public eye

• Supermarkets biggest source of HFC emissions in the UK, high leakage levels

• Despite 2007 commitment by leading retailers to move away from HFCs, just 14 stores using alternatives in 7 retailers that responded

• Retailers hampered by shortage of trained engineers

Chilling Facts II - 2010

• 11 retailers - 46 stores HFC-free

• 9 retailers announce measures to reduce HFCs, 3 to stop using HFCs in all new installations

• Still high levels of leakage, but innovative measures and targets being set, some improvements

• Energy efficiency gains demonstrated in hydrocarbon & CO2 stores

• Increase in training of contractors, servicing industry still dragging its heels and reluctant to embrace new technologies

Chilling Facts III - 2011

• 10 supermarkets assessed

• Clear progress - 239 stores using HFC-free refrigeration, 4 retailers committed to total phase-out

• Air-conditioning included for 1st time – some retailers working without A/C, some still relying on HCFCs

• Consistent leakage reduction but still high levels

• Several supermarkets setting training courses – but lack of standardisation

Chilling Facts IV - 2012

• Of those surveyed (17 chains), 344 stores across UK and 559 stores in Europe use HFC-free refrigeration

• Direct refrigerant emissions in UK now lower than indirect emissions, in Europe still higher

• Large number of retailers are committed to the Consumer Goods Forum pledge to begin phasing-out HFCs in 2015

• Retailers report significant energy efficiency gains • Holistic approach is key (system design,

complementary measures such as doors) • Retailers are also taking interim steps (hybrid systems,

retrofill)

Case studies

Lessons learned

• Supermarkets had to take control of their refrigeration and drive change

• Holistic approach is key (system and component design, complementary measures)

• The retail sector is diverse: no ‘one-size fits all’ solution for refrigeration

• European retailers are ready for change and are at the forefront of efforts to move away from HFC-based refrigeration

• Some general challenges remain: food transport refrigeration

• Legislation is needed to level the playing field

Information sharing

• Raised awareness in UK at public level through media campaign • Met with supermarkets to understand their issues and improve survey • Presentations to ozone network meetings, OEWG, MOP, RAC Magazine conference,

shecco events etc. • Distributed reports to European decision makers,

(Commission, Parliament & Council) and at Montreal Protocol meetings to inform legislation

Feedback from supermarkets

• “…lent support to M&S plans to overcome the technical challenges of replacing HFC refrigeration systems” – M&S (2009)

• “…raised the profile of refrigeration, the complexity of the issues involved and the difficulties faced by the supermarket sector in making changes…” - Sainsburys (2010)

• “We have tried to take a holistic approach to store design, learning from the work of Waitrose and others highlighted in last years report” – Coop (2012)

Looking to the future

• Need to further engage retailers in southern & eastern Europe

• Retailers must extend their commitment to HFC-free refrigeration beyond Europe and support development of solutions in developing countries

• CGF commitment can help stimulate global efforts to achieve sustainable refrigeration

• Legislation to level the playing field in the EU (F-gas Regulation) – ban on new HFC installations by 2020 is feasible

• Challenges can be met if retailers are willing to rise to them and governments support them.

ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY (EIA) 62/63 Upper Street, London N1 0NY, UK

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7354 7960 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7354 7961

clareperry@eia-international.org

www.eia-international.org

Thank you