ATMOsphere, publisher of R744.com, will hold a side event explaining the European Restriction Proposal on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at the 45th Open Ended Working Group under the United Nation Montreal Protocol on July 3 during a lunch break in room CR-3 from 1 to 3 pm local time in Bangkok, Thailand.
ATMOsphere is an industry observer to the Montreal Protocol and has closely followed the process leading to the publication of the EU PFAS proposal.
If enacted, the proposal would restrict the use, manufacturing and import of multiple fluorinated refrigerants that match the working definition adopted by the five European countries submitting this proposal. This definition is the one adopted by the Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD) in 2021 in its pivotal paper “Reconciling Terminology of the Universe of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: Recommendations and Practical Guidance” and is supported by the global scientific community.
Trifluoracetic acid (TFA), a degradation product of multiple fluorinated refrigerants, also matches the proposed definition. A recent report by ATMOsphere has listed evidence of TFA accumulation, especially in Europe. The report can be download for free at this link.
Beside ATMOsphere’s experts, representatives of the Norwegian Environment Agency and the German environmental consultancy Öko-Recherche will explain to the parties’ delegates the grounds for this policy initiative tackling PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals” due to their durability in nature.
Cold Chain Innovation Hub
On July 7 representatives of ATMOsphere will also join a United Nation Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) event in Bangkok reporting on the successes and lessons learned from the project “Global Partnership for Improving the Food Cold Chain in the Philippines.”
Based in the Philippines, the project seeks to build technology capacity in the country to support the uptake of natural refrigerant-based refrigeration technologies deployed along the country’s cold chain. More information on this ongoing project can be found at the following link.
