In the global debate on climate change, there is a group of substances that often escapes public attention yet represents a significant threat to our planet: hydrofluorocarbons, better known as HFCs or F-gases. These synthetic gases, widely used in industrial refrigeration systems, air conditioning and heat pumps, have a devastating climate impact that the industrial sector can no longer afford to ignore.
For companies operating in the industrial refrigeration sector, understanding the scale of the HFC problem and the available alternatives is no longer an option, but a strategic necessity imposed by European regulations and environmental responsibility.
What are HFCs and why are they problematic?
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are synthetic chemical compounds made of carbon, fluorine and hydrogen atoms. They were introduced to the market in the late 1980s as replacements for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which were responsible for ozone layer depletion. Their key feature initially appeared to be an advantage: unlike their predecessors, HFCs have an almost zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP).
The problem emerged later. While HFCs do not damage the ozone layer, they have an extremely high Global Warming Potential (GWP). GWP measures a substance’s ability to trap heat in the atmosphere compared to carbon dioxide, which is used as the reference with a value of 1.
Some HFCs commonly used in industrial refrigeration have strikingly high GWP values: HFC-23 reaches a GWP of 14,800, meaning that just one kilogram released into the atmosphere has the same greenhouse effect as 14,800 kg of CO₂. R-404A, one of the most widely used refrigerants in commercial and industrial refrigeration, has a GWP of 3,922, while R-410A, commonly used in air conditioning, reaches 2,088.
To put this into perspective, a leak of just 10 kg of R-404A is equivalent to nearly 40 tonnes of CO₂ emissions comparable to the annual emissions of 8–9 cars.
The Climate Impact of HFCs: numbers that cannot be ignored
The impact of HFCs on global climate is far from negligible. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), without global regulatory intervention, HFCs could account for between 9% and 19% of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The Situation in Europe and Italy
At European level, fluorinated gases currently represent around 2.5% of total greenhouse gas emissions. While this may seem modest, the trend is alarming: between 1990 and 2020, HFC emissions in the European Union increased exponentially, rising from 0.4 to 15.9 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent.
In Italy, the situation is particularly critical. According to data from the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), HFC emissions grew from 0.4 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent in 1990 to 12.4 million tonnes in 2015—an increase of over 3,000%. In 2020, fluorinated gases accounted for 4% of total national greenhouse gas emissions.
The most alarming figure concerns the source of these emissions: 89% of Italy’s HFC emissions come from refrigeration and air conditioning sectors, with commercial refrigeration alone accounting for 63%. This makes industrial and commercial refrigeration the primary contributor to HFC emissions in the country.
Italy: A Special Case in Europe
ISPRA reports highlight a concerning trend: while in most European countries HFC emissions began to stabilize or decline after 2014 (the year the new F-gas Regulation entered into force), in Italy they continued to rise. This anomaly is mainly attributed to:
- An outdated refrigeration system stock nearing renewal
- Particularly high refrigerant leakage rates (12–15% per year) from older commercial systems using high-GWP gases
- Limited awareness of the effects of these gases and available alternatives
- Poor management practices for these highly climate-damaging substances
GWP: understanding the Key Indicator
To fully grasp the impact of HFCs, it is essential to understand the concept of Global Warming Potential. GWP quantifies the greenhouse effect of a gas over a 100-year time horizon compared to CO₂.
Main HFC Refrigerants and Their GWP
- HFC-23: GWP 14,800 (used in cryogenic applications and as an industrial by-product)
- R-404A: GWP 3,922 (commercial and industrial refrigeration)
- R-507: GWP 3,985 (alternative to R-404A, same applications)
- HFC-227ea: GWP 3,220 (fire suppression systems)
- R-410A: GWP 2,088 (air conditioning and heat pumps)
- R-407C: GWP 1,774 (air conditioning and refrigeration)
- HFC-134a: GWP 1,430 (refrigeration, air conditioning, automotive)
- R-32: GWP 675 (next-generation air conditioning)
Even the lowest-GWP gas on this list (R-32) still has a climate impact 675 times greater than CO₂.
Direct and Indirect Emissions
Two types of emissions are associated with refrigeration systems:
- Direct emissions: Refrigerant released into the atmosphere due to leaks during operation, maintenance or end-of-life disposal
- Indirect emissions: CO₂ emissions resulting from electricity consumption to operate the system
Over the lifecycle of an industrial refrigeration system, indirect emissions typically account for 60–90% of total climate impact, while direct emissions contribute 10–40%. However, eliminating high-GWP HFCs remains crucial, as refrigerant choice also affects system energy efficiency and therefore indirect emissions.
European Regulations: a mandatory transition
The international community has recognized the urgency of addressing the HFC problem through binding agreements and increasingly stringent regulations.
The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol
In 2016, 197 countries approved the Kigali Amendment, committing to gradually reduce HFC production and consumption. The goal is to avoid the emission of 70 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent and prevent a 0.5°C increase in global temperature by the end of the century.
For developed countries, including Italy, the HFC phase-down began in 2019, with the objective of reducing consumption to no more than 15% of 2011–2013 levels by 2036.
Regulation (EU) 2024/573: the legislation that changes everything
The European Union has anticipated international commitments with an even more ambitious regulatory framework.
Regulation (EU) 2024/573 on fluorinated greenhouse gases, which entered into force on 11 March 2024 and replaced the previous Regulation (EU) 517/2014, introduces the following measures:
1. Progressive phase-down towards complete elimination
The quantity of HFCs that can be placed on the European market is progressively reduced through a quota system. The reduction has already started:
- 2015: baseline reference
- 2018: –37% compared to baseline
- 2021: –55%
- 2024: –79%
- 2030: –85%
- 2050: complete elimination of HFCs
2. Specific bans on placing products on the market
From 2025, HFCs with a GWP ≥ 2,500 are banned for the maintenance and repair of existing refrigeration systems (with a derogation for recycled or reclaimed gases until 2030).
This directly affects refrigerants such as R-404A, R-507 and R-422D, which are still widely used in Italian industrial refrigeration.
From 2026, similar bans will also apply to air conditioning systems and heat pumps.
3. Restrictions on new equipment
The regulation establishes increasingly lower GWP thresholds for new equipment placed on the market, pushing manufacturers and end users toward low climate-impact refrigerants.
4. Stricter leak detection requirements
Mandatory leak checks are no longer based solely on the quantity of refrigerant but on tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, making inspections more stringent for systems using high-GWP gases.
5. Traceability and responsibility
All systems with a refrigerant charge ≥ 3 kg must be registered in the National F-gas Electronic Register.
Operators are required to document interventions, recharging, leaks and refrigerant disposal.
Why Companies must act now
The implications of this regulatory transition for companies operating in the industrial refrigeration sector are profound and immediate.
Read our article: “Why Sustainability Also Starts with Refrigeration Technicians.”
Availability and cost of traditional refrigerants
The quota mechanism is already producing tangible effects on the market.
The availability of traditional high-GWP HFCs in Europe is decreasing sharply, while demand remains high. The result is a dramatic increase in prices.
Between 2014 and 2018, the price of high-GWP HFCs increased by 300–500%.
Refrigerants such as R-404A, which cost €8–10/kg in 2015, reached peaks of €40–50/kg in 2018–2019.
As quotas tighten further, prices will continue to rise, making the maintenance of systems based on these gases economically unsustainable.
By 2030, some high-GWP refrigerants may effectively no longer be available on the European market for routine maintenance, creating a significant operational risk for companies that have not planned the transition.
Risks of non-compliance
Penalties for violations of F-gas regulations can be very severe:
- Failure to register systems: up to €10,000
- Failure to perform leak checks: up to €20,000
- Use of banned refrigerants: up to €100,000
- Illegal emissions: up to €150,000
Beyond administrative fines, non-compliance may lead to the shutdown of systems, resulting in production losses and reputational damage.
Asset obsolescence
An industrial refrigeration system has a useful life of 15–20 years.
A system installed today using high-GWP HFCs risks becoming obsolete well before the end of its technical life due to the progressive unavailability of refrigerants required for maintenance.
This means that investing today in technologies based on traditional HFCs carries a significant economic risk.
Conversely, choosing low-GWP or natural refrigerants protects the long-term value of the investment.
Competitive and reputational opportunities
Companies that anticipate the transition to sustainable solutions gain significant competitive advantages:
- Early compliance: avoiding last-minute upgrades with lower costs and complexity
- Operational stability: independence from refrigerants with uncertain availability and volatile prices
- Environmental leadership: demonstrating a concrete commitment to sustainability, increasingly valued by clients, partners and stakeholders
- Access to incentives: benefiting from tax credits and incentives for energy efficiency and ecological transition
Sustainable alternatives: natural refrigerants and HFOs
The good news is that alternatives to high-GWP HFCs not only exist but often deliver comparable or superior performance.
Natural refrigerants
Natural refrigerants have zero or near-zero GWP and represent the most sustainable long-term solution.
Ammonia (NH₃, R-717)
- GWP: <1
- Excellent thermodynamic properties
- High energy efficiency
- Used in industrial refrigeration for over 100 years
- Requires specific safety protocols due to toxicity
- Ideal for large industrial systems with trained personnel
Carbon dioxide (CO₂, R-744)
- GWP: 1 (by definition)
- Excellent for transcritical applications
- Optimal for low-temperature applications
- Non-toxic, non-flammable
- Requires high operating pressures
- Increasingly used in commercial and industrial refrigeration
Hydrocarbons (propane R-290, isobutane R-600a)
- GWP: 3–20
- Excellent thermodynamic performance
- High energy efficiency
- Low cost
- Flammability requires specific safety measures
- Ideal for applications with limited refrigerant charge
Hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs)
HFOs are next-generation synthetic refrigerants with very low GWP:
- HFO-1234yf (GWP: 4)
- HFO-1234ze (GWP: 7)
- R-513A (HFO/HFC blend, GWP: 631)
- R-454B (HFO/HFC-32 blend, GWP: 466)
These refrigerants offer an attractive compromise: drastically lower GWP than traditional HFCs while maintaining similar safety characteristics and performance.
They are particularly suitable where natural refrigerants pose technical or safety challenges.
The strategic choice: designing the future today
For companies in the food, pharmaceutical, chemical and logistics sectors—and all industries dependent on industrial refrigeration—the time to act is now.
It is no longer a question of “if” high-GWP HFCs will be phased out, but “when” and “how” to do so in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
A strategic transition approach includes:
- Comprehensive audit of existing systems
- Evaluation of alternatives based on specific production needs
- Timeline planning aligned with maintenance and asset renewal cycles
- Personnel training, especially for natural refrigerants
- Access to incentives for energy efficiency and ecological transition
The crucial role of specialized consultancy
The transition to sustainable refrigerants requires deep technical expertise.
Each system is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
The choice of alternative refrigerant depends on multiple factors: operating temperatures, thermal loads, system configuration, site safety constraints and operating costs.
An experienced partner can guide companies through this complex process, identifying the optimal solution that balances performance, safety, sustainability and long-term costs.
SORI TRONIC: leadership in sustainable refrigeration
At SORI TRONIC, we embraced the sustainability challenge long before it became a regulatory obligation.
Our experience in designing and manufacturing industrial refrigeration systems has enabled us to develop deep expertise in natural and low-GWP refrigerants.
We design systems using ammonia, CO₂ and hybrid solutions, ensuring maximum energy efficiency and minimal environmental impact.
Our systems are built to last, fully compliant with the most stringent regulations and designed to protect your investment for decades.
Learn more about F-gas regulations and safety requirements by consulting the ISPRA Technical Report 286/2018 – Alternatives to HFCs in Italy, which provides a comprehensive overview of alternative substances across industrial sectors.
Act today for the climate of tomorrow
High-GWP HFCs have no future in European industrial refrigeration.
The transition is inevitable and already underway.
Companies that approach it strategically will emerge stronger; those that wait will face higher costs, operational risks and lost opportunities.
Environmental sustainability and economic competitiveness are no longer opposing goals—they are two sides of the same coin.
Eliminating high-impact HFCs means protecting the planet and protecting your business.
