The Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued an announcement stating that, effective January 1, 2026, my country will comprehensively ban the production of household refrigerators and freezers using hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) as refrigerants, including exported products (excluding vehicle refrigerators). This move is to fulfill the requirements of the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and related protocols, and to promote the transformation of the refrigeration industry towards low-carbon and environmentally friendly practices. HFCs are potent greenhouse gases, with a global warming potential far exceeding that of carbon dioxide. This ban will accelerate the industry’s shift towards environmentally friendly refrigerants, forcing companies to increase research and development and application of low-GWP refrigerants such as R290 and R600a. It is expected to drive the environmental upgrade of the commercial refrigeration equipment industry and contribute to the achievement of the “dual carbon” goals (carbon dioxide, carbon sequestration, and carbon emissions).
