Ozone depletion
Certain man-made chemicals, once used in aerosol dispensers and now mainly used in air conditioning, refrigeration and fire-protection systems, have caused thinning of the ozone layer. The main gases responsible are chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and halons.
The Montreal Protocol agreements have led to the phasing out of the most damaging chemicals, including halons and CFCs. Although manufacture has ceased in developed nations, the use of existing stocks is permitted. HCFCs, a less ozone depleting alternative to CFCs, remain in widespread use in refrigeration equipment.
Alternative refrigerants to CFCs and HCFCs include hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hydrocarbons (HCs) – both are ozone-benign. However, HFCs have a high greenhouse gas potential and contribute to climate change. Although hydrocarbon gases such as butane and pentane are volatile organic compounds and flammable, they have been safely introduced in domestic refrigerators and freezers, and are starting to be used in commercial refrigeration. They are now permitted for new equipment under certain conditions in all countries except the United States.
Aerosols in Australia & New Zealand
In the 1980s, CFC propellants were removed from all aerosol dispensers in Australia and New Zealand. Unilever Australasia was one of the first companies to have all its aerosol deodorants CFC-free.
Refrigerants
Refrigeration is an essential part of many manufacturing processes in the world today. Typically though, most of the refrigerants used in the past have been expensive, ozone-depleting and/or contributing significantly to global warming.
In our ice cream and frozen foods factories, Unilever use ammonia for industrial-scale refrigeration. Ammonia does not contribute to global warming or ozone depletion.
Unilever is committed to reducing environmental change. From 2005, we aim to purchase only ice cream freezer cabinets that use hydrocarbon refrigerants, where this is commercially viable and legally permitted. Hydrocarbons are natural gases that generally have negligible impact on climate change, do not contribute to ozone depletion, are safe to use with proper handling, are highly efficient and inexpensive. A well-known exception to this is methane which contributes 15% to ‘man-made’ global warming and has a GWP of 23.
Following trials in 2000 at the Sydney Olympics and in Denmark, in April 2003 we started our global rollout of HFC-free freezing cabinets, installing 800 in Denmark. In 2004, a total of 15 000 HFC-free cabinets were installed in 18 European countries. This will rise to almost 50 000 in Europe during 2005.
We continue to explore new technologies. During 2004, we demonstrated a thermoacoustic (sound wave technology) freezer cabinet and ran field trials on five solar power assisted freezer cabinets.
In 2004, Unilever, together with Coca-Cola and McDonald's, sponsored a conference in Brussels called 'Refrigerants Naturally'. The conference showcased ozone and climate friendly freezer technologies. It was supported by the United Nations Environment Program and Greenpeace.
In May 2005, The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded Unilever, Coca-Cola and McDonald's the EPA's Climate Protection Award. The award recognised the companies' joint efforts in promoting the development of environmentally friendly refrigeration technology.
