The Coalition for PFAS-Free Cooling & Heating is set to host an online event featuring industry expert Professor Michael Kauffeld, which will address the growing concerns over per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the HVAC&R industry.
The session, titled PFAS: A Growing Concern in the HVAC&R Industry, will take place Friday, February 14, at 1 pm CET. It is the first in a three-part series leading up to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) plenary session taking place March 3–7, where proposed restrictions on PFAS in f-gas applications are expected to be discussed.
“We urge all stakeholders involved in this discussion to prioritize ambitious yet practical measures that reflect the growing availability and scalability of PFAS-free solutions,” said Cinzia Verzeletti, a spokesperson for the Coalition for PFAS Free Cooling & Heating.
The series aims to offer a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in PFAS regulations and their impact on the heating and cooling industry. Details of the subsequent sessions will be announced in the coming weeks.
“We urge all stakeholders involved in this discussion to prioritize ambitious yet practical measures that reflect the growing availability and scalability of PFAS-free solutions.”
Cinzia Verzeletti, spokesperson for the Coalition for PFAS Free Cooling & Heating
Restricting the use of PFAS
Kauffeld, who is a professor at the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Refrigeration, Air-Conditioning and Environmental Engineering in Germany, will lead the discussion, with a focus on trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) – a degradation product of HFO refrigerants.
Kauffeld has warned the industry that HFOs will no longer be a viable refrigerant option by 2032, emphasizing that “we shouldn’t wait eight more years.”
Recent studies have highlighted TFA’s risk to human and environmental health, categorizing it as a “planetary boundary threat.”
“Politicians should have banned HFOs and the fluorinated pesticides yesterday rather than tomorrow – but not in eight years,” Kauffeld stated during his keynote address at the ATMOsphere (ATMO) Europe Summit 2024, where he was also named Person of the Year for his work on PFAS. ATMO Europe was hosted by ATMOsphere, publisher of NaturalRefrigerants.com.
To accelerate regulatory action, national authorities from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden submitted a proposed restriction on PFAS to the ECHA in early 2023.
“It’s not easy for policymakers to address this PFAS file, especially with regard to refrigerants, which are the largest and fastest growing source of PFAS in Europe,” said Marc Chasserot, Co-Founder and CEO of ATMOsphere, who will moderate the online event. “We want to make sure that policymakers have accurate data so that they are fully informed about alternatives as they evaluate this critical issue.”
“We want to make sure that policymakers have accurate data so that they are fully informed about alternatives as they evaluate this critical issue.”
Marc Chasserot, CEO of ATMOsphere
Advocating for sustainable alternatives
Founded in October 2024, the Coalition for PFAS-Free Cooling & Heating promotes natural refrigerants as sustainable alternatives to harmful PFAS in the HVAC&R industry. The Coalition is also pushing for ambitious European PFAS regulations to protect environmental and human health.
“We recognize the urgent need to address the environmental and health impacts of fluorinated gases,” Verzeletti told NaturalRefrigerants.com.
The coalition includes several industry stakeholders such as ATMOsphere, Dorin, Fenagy, Güntner, Konvekta, Refra, Secon, Teko, Vahterus and Zudek, all committed to enhancing the sustainability of the HVAC&R sector.
“Natural refrigerants and other groundbreaking technologies, developed here in the EU, demonstrate that a future without PFAS is not only achievable but also enhances the competitiveness of European industry, fosters green tech innovation and creates sustainable jobs for EU citizens,” she added. “This is a win-win-win for businesses, consumers and the planet.”
