India has successfully completed the phasing out of Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-141b, used by foam manufacturing companies and one of the most potent ozone-depleting substances after Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), the Union environment ministry said. HCFC-141b is used mainly as a blowing agent in the production of rigid polyurethane (PU) foams.

The ozone layer filters sunlight and prevents the adverse effects of ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth’s surface, thereby preserving life on the planet.

How was this phase out achieved?

India has consciously chosen a path for environment friendly and energy efficient technologies while phasing out ozone-depleting substances (ODSs), an official statement said. India is one among the few countries globally and a pioneer in some cases in the use of technologies, which are non-ozone depleting and have a low Global Warming Potential (GWP).

Ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) on December 31, 2019 brought out a notification through which the issuance of import license for HCFC-141b has been prohibited from January 1 this year. 

“HCFC-141b is not produced in the country and all the domestic requirements are met through imports,” said the statement. 

Simultaneously, the use of HCFC-141b by foam manufacturing industry has also been closed as on January 1 under the Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Amendment Rules, 2014.

The polyurethane foam sector has links with important economic sectors related to buildings, cold storages and cold chain infrastructure, automobiles, commercial refrigeration, domestic appliances such as refrigerators, water geysers, office and domestic furniture applications, specific high value niche applications, etc. 

Most of the companies that are manufacturing foam in India are micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and belong to informal sector.

Ministry’s structured approach

Nearly, 50 per cent of the consumption of ozone depleting chemicals in the country was attributable to HCFC-141 b in the foam sector. The ministry adopted a structured approach to engage with foam manufacturing enterprises for providing technical and financial assistance in order to transition to non-ODS and low GWP technologies under HCFC Phase out Management Plan (HPMP). 

Around 175 foam manufacturing enterprises have been covered under HPMP out of which, 163 enterprises are covered under stage II of HPMP. 

The complete phase out of HCFC-141b from the country in foam sector is among the first at this scale in Article 5 parties (developing countries) under the Montreal Protocol. 

The implementation of HPMP through regulatory and policy actions, implementation of technology conversion projects has removed around 7,800 metric tonnes of HCFC-141b from the baseline level of 2009 and 2010 of the country. 

What are the benefits of this action?

The phase out of HCFC-141b from the country has two environmental benefits. 

1) Assisting the healing of the stratospheric ozone layer. 

2) Climate change mitigation due to transitioning of foam manufacturing enterprises at this scale under HPMP to low global warming potential alternative technologies.

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