A climate win with global impact

For decades, cooling and insulation technologies have relied on fluorinated blowing agents to deliver energy efficiency and product performance. But some of these substances — particularly hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) — also come with high global warming potential.

Reducing their impact was never going to be simple. What ultimately made it possible was a combination of clear regulation and rapid innovation across the value chain, leading to a well-executed transition and measurable climate benefit at global scale.

What are HFCs and why do they matter?

Hydrofluorocarbons, so-called HFCs, are synthetic chemicals commonly used for cooling and refrigeration. They evaporate at very low temperatures, making them effective in insulation foams, household appliances, and industrial cooling systems.

While HFCs do not damage the ozone layer, they trap heat with global warming potentials around 1,000 times higher than CO₂. Even small amounts can have a large climate impact.

Historically, HFCs were widely used as blowing agents in polyurethane (PU) foams embedded in:

• Building insulation panels
• Spray foam for construction
• Fridge and freezer cabinets
• Refrigerated transport

What global policies drove the transition away from HFCs?

The journey began long before climate change became a headline issue. The Montreal Protocol, established in the late 1980s to protect the ozone layer, triggered a first wave of transitions away from chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). HFCs emerged as a successor technology, offering ozone protection, but later proved to be a challenge from a climate change perspective.

Over time, international and regional treaties, and country-specific laws and regulations built on this foundation. For polyurethane foam systems, their shared objective was clear: reduce the use of higher global warming potential (GWP) blowing agents and enable the adoption of lower‑impact alternatives.

How did US regulation accelerate the phase-out of HFCs?

In the United States, this global ambition translated into concrete regulatory action. In 2020, Congress gave US EPA the authority to regulate HFCs under the Clean Air Act, setting firm compliance dates for their phase‑out in many applications.

For foam blowing agents and related uses, these rules established January 1, 2020, as a key milestone. By then, most conversions from HFCs to HFOs or other approved blowing agents had to be completed, with limited exceptions for highly specialized applications such as certain military or aerospace uses.

Importantly, these requirements applied across industries and suppliers alike. The transition was a legal necessity.

How much emissions reduction was achieved by moving away from HFCs?

Because the transition from HFCs was largely driven by laws and regulation, communicating it requires precision. The move from HFCs to HFOs was mainly a response to legal requirements. At the same time, it delivered a very real and continuing climate benefit involving several different technologies, including those requiring polyurethane foam and refrigeration/air conditioning.

Using today’s calculation methods, historic downstream emissions from HFC‑based applications using BASF’s PU systems showed meaningful reductions of about 90% in just seven years by the Performance Materials division of BASF.

Why does the HFC phase-out serve as a model for climate policy?

The phase‑down/phase-out of HFCs is one example of climate‑driven regulation working as intended. Clear rules created certainty. Certainty enabled investment and innovation. Innovation delivered solutions that reduced emissions without compromising performance or competitiveness.

The result is not a story of heroics, but of an industry taking responsibility and following legal requirements. It is also a reminder that regulation and innovation are not opposites. When aligned, they can be powerful drivers of change.