Clean Cooling in Europe
How Food Retailers are Tackling HFCs
European retailers see
the shift away from HFC
refrigerants as a positive change
Important drivers for retailers making the shift away from HFC refrigerants
57%
53%
Safety
48%
Energy Efficiency
Environmental
Sustainability
Retailers are not always opting for their ideal choice
Propane
or other
HC systems
But the industry has some catching up to do
Preference for low GWP refrigeration technologies
Main perceived challenges
56%
Only
have started the
shift away from HFCs refrigerants
10%
Less than
(8.5%) of
companies with under 200
employees have started the shift
40%
are unaware of
upcoming regulatory changes
43 %
Operational cost
42 %
Safety
Refrigeration technologies retailers have switched to
Retailers want incentives to accelerate
the HFC phase-down process
43 % 40 % 33 %
Depreciation schemes
or other tax rebates Cheaper low GWP
refrigerants Interest
free loans
Source: ComRes survey of retail professionals in France, Germany and UK. Results published by Emerson, October 2017.
hydrocarbon integral systems over the challenges and opportunities by finding less expensive low GWP
a 10 year period. Furthermore while for making the transition away from options (40 percent). This places an
CO2 is a significant improvement HFCs. onus on regulatory bodies to provide
over HFCs in terms of global warming
potential (GWP), it is found to have Challenges identified included ope-
lower energy efficiency performance rational expenditure and installation
and higher maintenance require- disruption which drew significant
ments than other alternatives. scores of 43 percent and 33 percent
more incentives to retailers looking
to make the shift, and to invest more
in the research and development of
new technologies.
respectively. Yet interestingly, cost
“The EU F-gas regulation has placed alone was not identified as the main Survey findings are based on an
a significant amount of pressure on priority for selecting a new refrigera- online poll of 140 professionals with
food retailers to quickly transition tion system. The survey highlighted decision-making responsibility for
away from HFCs,” Eric Winandy said. the desirability of energy efficiency “The challenge for the industry will and environmental sustainability, purchasing in the retail sector. This
be to balance this pressure with the with energy efficiency scoring 48 need to take the time to learn about percent and environmental sustaina- all the options available, and what it bility 39 percent.
means for businesses in the long-
included 40 participants in France,
50 in Germany, and 50 in the UK.
Fieldwork was conducted by ComRes
between the 15th and 31st of Au-
gust, 2017.
term. Choosing the right system to When asked what would encoura- replace HFCs can be a win on mul- ge respondents to accelerate the tiple fronts. It can help retailers see replacement of HFC refrigeration More information on natural refrige-
cost, operational and environmental systems with lower global warming rants, including system options, arti-
benefits.” potential options, depreciation sche- cles and webinars can also be found
mes or other tax rebates were the
The survey also shed some light on
most popular (43 percent), followed
at www.emersonclimate.eu.
FDPP - www.fdpp.co.uk 55