Europe reduced use of ozone layer-harming chemicals in 2015

The report 'Ozone depleting substances 2015' has been published by the EEA to coincide with the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.

Stratospheric ozone absorbs most of the sun’s ultraviolet light so it does not reach the surface of the planet, helping prevent skin cancers and other problems such as damage to crops and marine phytoplankton. Some chemicals, also known as ozone depleting substances (ODS), harm the ozone layer. They have been successfully substituted in most parts of the world since 1989 when the Montreal Protocol came into force.  

Within the European Union (EU), the phase-out of ODS use is established through the ODS Regulation. Companies are obliged to report data on production, import, export and destruction, which is used to calculate ‘consumption’, the key metric tracking progress under the Protocol. Consumption can be negative, if the amounts of controlled substances produced and imported are lower than those exported or destroyed.

In 2015, the ODS consumption reached the lowest negative level since 2006 measured in metric tonnes. The value (– 3 808 metric tonnes) was 1 305 metric tonnes lower than in 2014. A significant contributing factor to the low consumption was a 12 % decrease in imports compared to 2014. Moreover, destruction of controlled substances increased between 2014 and 2015.

About ozone depleting substances

The Montreal Protocol covers over 200 individual substances, including chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). These were formerly mainly used as refrigerants, propellants in spray cans, foam blowing agents, solvents and fire extinguishers. The data collected on these chemicals are expressed not only in metric tonnes, but also in 'ozone depleting potential' (ODP) tonnes, which show quantities in terms of their environmental effects rather than physical weight.

More information

• EEA Core Set Indicator ‘Production and consumption of ozone depleting substances’  
• European Commission DG Climate Action information on ozone depleting substances