# Fluorochemicals and refrigerants: Emissions

Why leaks matter far more than factories for refrigerants

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/fluoro_intermediates/emissions/

What this tab covers The greenhouse-gas footprint per tonne, split by lifecycle phase (feedstock, production, movement, use, end of life), the global total, other environmental impacts, levers and low-carbon routes, India's position, and where the investment opportunity lies. Emission intensity 545 t CO2e per t range about 5-10 t if fully recovered and destroyed; over 3,000 t for R404A released · 0.8 x GWP 675 = 540 t from release, plus about 5 t for production (indicative) Global emissions per year 1,400 Mt CO2e per year 2019 · all fluorinated gases, of which HFCs are the largest part; HFC-23 alone was about 206 Mt in 2023 (14.0 Gg x 14,700)

Per t of HFC-32 refrigerant over its life, cradle-to-grave, assuming about 80% is eventually released (indicative). Intensity: IPCC AR4 GWP; release fraction and production footprint indicative. Global total: IPCC AR6 WGIII (2022) via fluorspar tile; Adam et al. (2024) and EGU 2025 for HFC-23.

#### Share of footprint by lifecycle phase
 Feedstock 0.5% Production / process 0.5% Use 59% End of life 40%

#### Footprint by lifecycle phase

| Phase | Intensity | Share | Main sources of emissions | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Feedstock** | about 2-3 t CO2e per t (indicative: HF at 0.75 t CO2e/t and chloromethanes) | 0.5% | fluorspar mining, HF kilns, chlor-alkali power |  | hydrofluoric acid tile; indicative |
| **Production / process** | about 2-3 t CO2e per t (indicative), excluding fugitive releases | 0.5% | distillation energy and fugitive losses; for HCFC-22 plants, HFC-23 venting can add hundreds of t CO2e per t of R22 | HFC-23 emissions of 14.0 Gg in 2023 imply incomplete destruction at R22 plants | Adam et al. (2024); indicative |
| **Movement** | small | 0% | cylinder and ISO tank transport; illegal trade |  | indicative |
| **Use** | about 325 t CO2e per t (indicative: about 48% of the charge leaks during service life) | 59% | leaks from split air conditioners, supermarket systems and car air conditioning; top-ups during servicing | efficiency of the equipment also sets electricity emissions, usually larger than the gas itself over a life | indicative |
| **End of life** | about 215 t CO2e per t (indicative: about 32% of the charge vented at disposal) | 40% | venting when equipment is scrapped without recovery | recovery and destruction or reclamation can cut this to near zero | indicative |

#### Other environmental impacts

HCFCs deplete ozone. HFOs and some HFCs break down to trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a persistent PFAS found in rain and water. HF plants carry acute toxicity risk. Anhydrite and fluoride effluent from HF production.

#### Levers to cut emissions

- Destroy HFC-23 at all HCFC-22 plants (thermal oxidation)
- Recover and reclaim refrigerants at service and end of life
- Switch to lower-GWP gases (R32, HFOs) or natural refrigerants (propane, CO2, ammonia)
- Cut leaks through better installation and servicing
- Use more efficient equipment, which cuts power emissions

#### India

India's HFC use is set to grow with air conditioning until the 2028 freeze; the India Cooling Action Plan targets 25-30% lower refrigerant demand by 2037-38 through better servicing and design (indicative).
 Emission figures are indicative global averages from the life-cycle studies named; actual footprints vary widely by site, energy mix and method.

#### Low-carbon routes

| Route | Intensity | Cost premium | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **HFOs and HFO blends (R1234yf, R454B, R1234ze)** | GWP under 1 to about 470 (indicative) | several times HFC price (indicative) | standard in new cars in the EU and US; SRF 20 kt/yr plant due 2028; Navin supplies Honeywell | SRF FY2026; ICICI Direct 2026; indicative |
| **Natural refrigerants (propane R290, CO2, ammonia)** | GWP about 0-3 | similar equipment cost at scale; safety design needed for propane | Godrej and Gree make R290 room air conditioners; CO2 dominant in new EU supermarkets (indicative) | indicative |
| **Refrigerant reclamation** | avoids new production and release | collection cost | EU and US markets growing; small in India (indicative) | indicative |

 For a climate investor Three places to look: refrigerant recovery and reclamation in India, where servicing leaks are large; low-GWP equipment using R32, R290 or CO2; and HFC-23 monitoring and destruction. Indian HFO capacity (SRF) is a bet that HFOs escape a PFAS ban. What has to be true: India's quota and servicing rules are enforced, and buyers pay for low-GWP gases.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/fluoro_intermediates/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/fluoro_intermediates/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/fluoro_intermediates/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/fluoro_intermediates/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/fluoro_intermediates/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/fluoro_intermediates/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/fluoro_intermediates/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/fluoro_intermediates/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/fluoro_intermediates/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/fluoro_intermediates/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/fluoro_intermediates/characteristics/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/fluoro_intermediates/links/index.md)