|
|
We are actively seeking more sustainable refrigerant alternatives to replace the prevailing hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) industry standard. That's because HFCs have a significant impact on climate change—1,000 times greater than the impact of the equivalent amount of CO2.
In 2000, we joined with United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and The Coca Cola Company in hosting a refrigeration summit for environmental organizations and refrigeration suppliers.
As an outgrowth of the summit, we volunteered to open and operate, on a pilot basis, a totally HFC-free restaurant. And we asked our suppliers to create equipment we could test. |
|
|
|
 |
The restaurant opened in 2003, in Denmark. In collaboration with our suppliers, we assessed the equipment in it for effectiveness and total environmental impact. We are continuing work with our suppliers on the types of equipment that seem most promising.
Equipment using alternative refrigerants has to be commercially viable, as well as environmentally friendly. Creating a market demand is challenging for us, since it's estimated that the equipment in our restaurants uses less than 1% of total HFC-based refrigerants purchased.
To build interest, we joined with two of our major suppliers that are also working on non-HFC equipment—Coca Cola and Unilever. With the support of UNEP and Greenpeace, the three of us sponsored a second global refrigerants conference—Refrigerants, Naturally. At this conference, held in June 2004, we presented the results of our efforts to date.
In 2005, UNEP formally recognized the Refrigerants, Naturally coalition as an official Partnership for Sustainable Development. This means that the coalition is understood to advance the objectives of Agenda 21 (the UN's comprehensive action plan for sustainable development) and the program and plan for implementing that agenda.
For our Refrigerants, Naturally leadership, we and our supplier partners were recognized by EPA with its 2005 Climate Protection Award.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Printer-Friendly
