Many initiatives, both private and public, converge towards an almost systematic use of CO2 in refrigeration.
The Consumer Goods Forum, an organization comprised of more than 600 companies, worth more than €3,000 bn, represented in 70 countries, agreed to ban HFCs in its applications as of 2015, in its statement of November 2010. CO2 is mentioned in its Installation Guide of New Systems. In the United States, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has certified more than 40 US retailers using new refrigeration systems with GreenChill certification. The first certified platinum banner will open this season with a CO2 system.
In Canada, last March the government reviewed its Action Plan on Climate Change and intensified the reduction of Freon use by 25%.
In Europe, the Environmental Investigation Agency and the European Parliament are intensifying the terms of the F-Gas Regulation. They aim to reduce the use of HFCs by 84% by 2030. Some European countries have also already banned Freon in their applications (e.g. Denmark). As for Asian, Japan has intensified government policies to set an example and stop the production of F-Gases. Even private initiatives have emerged; the automotive industry is developing CO2 air conditioning. Volkswagen, BMW, Audi and others have already signed on.
To resume, there is awareness about these problems, there are solutions, there is a global consensus on these solutions, the regulations are coming and it is urgent that the stakeholders begin to act.