R1234yf

Berlin – November 05, 2026 -- About 40,000 tonnes of PFAS "forever chemicals" are used as refrigerants in Europe every year despite the existing F-gas regulation, according to a study by Öko-Recherche for Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH). The study undercuts the chemical industry's main argument for exempting fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) from the planned EU PFAS restriction.

Study rejects the chemical industry's "double regulation" claim

Industry groups argue that F-gases are already adequately regulated and should be excluded from the PFAS restriction. DUH says the F-gas regulation phases out the most climate-damaging F-gases but still permits chemicals that harm health and pollute the environment. The study concludes that the 40,000-tonne volume remains unregulated from a PFAS perspective, and that this will continue without intervention.