Ozone-depleting substances - 2024 | European Environment Agency's home page

Man-made ozone-depleting substances destroy the protective ozone layer and, in 1987, the international community established the Montreal Protocol to cut their consumption and production. To fulfil its obligations under the Montreal Protocol, the EU has adopted the more ambitious EU Ozone Regulation. This online data viewer contains information on ozone-depleting substances in the EU, based on aggregated data reported by companies since 2006 under the Ozone Regulation.

Introduction

In 1989, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer entered into force. Its objective is to protect the stratospheric ozone layer by phasing out the production of ozone-depleting substances (ODS). The protocol covers around 100 individual substances with a high ozone-depleting potential (ODP), including chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride (CTC), 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), hydrobromofluorocarbons (HBFCs), bromochloromethane (BCM) and methyl bromide (MB), all of which are referred to as ‘controlled substances’.

Within the European Union (EU), the use of and trade in substances is regulated by Regulation (EC) No 1005/2009 (known as the Ozone Regulation). This regulation stipulates that all companies producing controlled substances or importing them into and/or exporting them out of the EU, as well as feedstock users, process agent users and destruction facilities, must report their activities concerning controlled substances annually. The Ozone Regulation also encompasses five additional ODS that are not covered by the Montreal Protocol. These ‘new substances’ are halon 1202, methyl chloride (MC), ethyl bromide (EB), trifluoroiodomethane (TFIM) and n-propyl bromide (n-PB). Producers, importers and exporters also have to report their activities for these new substances and will cover three additional ozone-depleting substances.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) is responsible for collecting, archiving, checking and aggregating information contained in these company reports. The EEA also supports the companies in fulfilling their reporting obligations. The data reported on production, imports and exports are presented to parties to the Montreal Protocol in order to monitor progress in phasing out ODS in compliance with the Protocol. In 2024, 191 companies reported on their 2023 activities under the Ozone Regulation.

The EU has already achieved its phase-out goals under the Montreal Protocol and reports on the uses that are still allowed.

This online data viewer summarizes the most recent data reported by companies under the Ozone Regulation and looks at trends since 2006. Data from 2012 onwards were also updated, based on reports resubmitted after the reporting deadlines for these years.

Since the potential to harm the ozone layer varies among substances, results are expressed in both metric tonnes and ODP tonnes (see definition of ODP or ozone depleting potential in the terminology below). The observed trends can differ significantly depending on the unit used. Controlled substances with a relatively high ODP (e.g. CFCs and CTC) exhibit a different trend from those with a relatively low ODP (e.g. HCFCs).

Consumption of controlled substances

Consumption is an aggregated parameter calculated for data reported under the Montreal Protocol (see Box 1 below). It integrates the statistics on imports, exports, production and destruction of controlled substances into one single metric, excluding non-virgin imports and exports. Amounts that are produced and imported for feedstock use within the EU and process agent use are not included in consumption figures, in line with calculations applied under the Montreal Protocol. New substances listed in Annex II to the Ozone Regulation are also excluded from consumption data.

Box 1. Consumption

In brief, consumption (which only applies to controlled substances) is calculated as follows:

CONSUMPTION = ADJUSTED PRODUCTION + ADJUSTED IMPORT - EXPORT - DESTRUCTION

with

ADJUSTED PRODUCTION = total production - production for feedstock in the EU - production for process agent use
ADJUSTED IMPORT = total virgin imports - virgin imports for feedstock use in the EU - virgin imports for process agent use
EXPORT = total virgin exports
DESTRUCTION = total virgin and non-virgin destruction

In 2023, the consumption of controlled substances was positive, amounting to 1,306 metric tonnes, up from -2,954 metric tonnes in 2022. The positive consumption level is the result of significant stocks of quantities for ‘Feedstock outside the EU’ which are not reflected in total exports. The single activities that contribute to ODS consumption are shown in the figure below. If the sum of production and imports exceeds the sum of exports and destruction, the consumption is positive, and vice versa. In recent years, the consumption of controlled substances has largely been driven by CTC, HCFCs and CFC consumption. Expressed in ODP tonnes, consumption in 2023 amounted to 1,778 ODP tonnes, up from -3,165 ODP tonnes in 2022.

Figure: Trend in consumption of controlled substances by activity

Imports of controlled substances

In 2023, imports of controlled virgin substances into the EU amounted to 3,593 metric tonnes, which represents a 2% decrease compared to 2022. The imported controlled substances were almost entirely virgin substances and 80% of them were imported from China. Around 79% of the imported virgin quantities were HCFCs, followed by BCM and halons. Controlled virgin substances were almost exclusively imported for feedstock use. Imports of controlled non-virgin substances amounted to about 2% of total imports. Expressed in ODP tonnes, imports of virgin halons and HCFCs were largest.

When expressed in ODP tonnes, imports are showing an increasing trend, up from 1,934 ODP tonnes in 2021 to 3,061 ODP tonnes in 2023. This is mainly due to increased import of Halons for feedstock use, which exhibit significant ODP.

Figure: Trend in imports of controlled virgin substances into the EU

Exports of controlled substances

In 2023, exports of controlled virgin substances from the EU amounted to 27,274 metric tonnes. Overall, exports decreased by 31% compared to 2022. CTC accounted for the largest quantities of exported virgin substances (89% of total exports when expressed in metric tonnes), followed by HCFCs (11% of total exports). Both CTC and HCFCs were mainly exported for feedstock use outside the EU. ODS quantities were mainly exported to the United States (89%) and Great Britain (7%). Since almost no CTC was imported in 2023, the exported quantities were mainly produced in the EU or taken from stocks which had accumulated from previous years. Looking at ODP tonnes, exports decreased by 7%. In terms of proportions, exports of virgin CTC were also largest (99% of total exports when expressed in ODP tonnes).

Figure: Trend in exports of controlled virgin substances out of the EU

Similar to imports, controlled non-virgin substances were exported out of the EU to a much lesser extent than controlled virgin substances. In 2023, non-virgin substances compose less than 1% of total exports when expressed in metric tonnes.

Production of controlled substances

In 2023, the production of controlled substances in the EU amounted to 157,006 metric tonnes, a 20% decrease compared with 2022. Thereof, 32,599 metric tonnes are relevant for consumption. The quantities produced included mostly production of HCFCs, CTC and TCA. Only minor quantities of BCM, halons, CFCs and HBFCs, and no MB, were produced. In terms of metric tonnes, production for feedstock use inside the EU decreased by 20%, and production for process agent use showed a decrease in 2023 compared with 2022 as well. Production for other uses in metric tonnes, as accounted for in the estimation of the consumption of controlled substances (see Box 1 above and the section on consumption), decreased by 21% in 2023 compared with 2022. Expressed in ODP tonnes, production of CTC and HCFCs was largest (81% and 9% of total production, respectively). Controlled substances were mainly produced for feedstock use inside the EU (79% of the produced quantity in metric tonnes).

Figure: Trend in the production of controlled substances within the EU

Destruction of controlled substances

In 2023, 4,020 metric tonnes of controlled substances were destroyed in total, an 16% decrease compared with 2022. The largest quantities destroyed were of CTC, CFCs and HCFCs (82%, 9% and 7% of total destruction, respectively). Expressed in ODP, destruction amounted to 4,064 ODP tonnes and decreased by 20% compared to the year before. The largest quantities destroyed were of CTC, CFCs and halons (90%, 9% and 1% of total destruction, respectively).

Figure: Trend in destruction of controlled substances within the EU

Feedstock use of controlled substances

A number of ODS serve as feedstock for the manufacture of other products such as refrigerants, foam blowing agents, polymers, pharmaceuticals and agricultural chemicals. In 2023, feedstock use amounted to 130,112 metric tonnes, a 17% decrease compared with 2022. Feedstock availability was 129,561 metric tonnes in 2023, down by 17% from 2022. Overall, feedstock availability, which is calculated as the sum of the production for feedstock use inside the EU and the imports for feedstock use inside the EU, was therefore at a comparable level to feedstock use, indicating that the EEA reporting systems covers all relevant undertakings from the supply as well from the production side.

Figure: Trend in the feedstock availability and use of controlled substances

In 2022, the emission rate from feedstock uses was 0.04% of the reported make-up. The 2023 average emission rate was slightly higher than the emission rate in 2022 and also marginally higher than the average emission rate obtained from earlier years (2016 to 2022).

Process agent use of controlled substances

New substances

The Ozone Regulation is more stringent than the rules of the Montreal Protocol and encompasses new substances (halon 1202, n-PB, EB, TFIM and MC). In 2023, the production of new substances amounted to 614,362 metric tonnes, a 17% decrease compared with 2022. Production of new substances is therefore at its lowest level since 2009. The production of new substances was almost exclusively for feedstock use and related to MC (more than 99% of total production), n-PB and EB. Expressed in ODP tonnes, the production of MC was also largest (99% of total production).

Figure: Trend in the production of new substances within the EU

In 2023, the production of new substances was about four times higher than the production of controlled substances expressed in metric tonnes. However, when expressed in ODP tonnes, the production of new substances was around one fifth the production of controlled substances in the same year. This is because new substances, on average, have significantly lower ODP than controlled substances.

Figure: Comparison of the production of new and controlled substances within the EU

Notes

Terminology

Ozone-depleting substances (ODS)

ODS are substances, mainly compounds containing chlorine and/or bromine, that reach the stratosphere of the Earth and whose breakdown products react with the stratospheric ozone. This reduces the concentration levels of ozone in that region of the atmosphere (commonly known as the ozone layer) and thus the capacity of the atmosphere to filter ultraviolet light. Most known ODS are regulated under the Montreal Protocol.

Controlled substances

Controlled substances are ODS that are listed in Annex I of the Ozone Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1005/2009) and are subject to the reporting obligation of Article 7 of the Montreal Protocol.

Mixtures

The term ‘mixtures’ refers to gas mixtures consisting of multiple substances, at least one of which is a controlled substance. Destruction facilities are required to report the quantities of individual substances destroyed each year. In certain cases, however, companies were only able to report on the destruction of mixtures of controlled substances with an unknown composition. Therefore, these mixtures are not included in the data presented in this online data viewer and are not reported under the Montreal Protocol.

New substances

The term ‘new substances’ refers to the five additional substances covered by the EU Ozone Regulation that are not included within the scope of the Montreal Protocol: halon 1202, n-propyl bromide (n-PB), ethyl bromide (EB), trifluoroiodomethane (TFIM) and methyl chloride (MC). Companies in the EU are obliged to report on the import, export and production of these substances in line with the Ozone Regulation’s higher level of ambition than that of the Montreal Protocol. New substances should not be confused with virgin substances (see below).

Virgin substances

These are substances that have been produced and have not been previously used. Newly produced substances are, by definition, virgin.

Non-virgin substances

These are substances that have been previously used and subsequently recovered from products and equipment, and/or been recycled or reclaimed.

Feedstock

A number of ODS serve as chemical building blocks for the manufacture of other chemicals (i.e. as ‘feedstock’). They are used (directly or indirectly) for the manufacture of a diverse range of products including refrigerants, foam blowing agents, solvents, polymers, pharmaceuticals and agricultural chemicals.

Process agent

A process agent is a substance that either facilitates a chemical reaction or inhibits an intended chemical reaction in an industrial process.

Make-up

Make-up is the quantity of virgin, recovered or reclaimed controlled substances that has not been used in the process cycle before, and that is fed into the process cycle for the first time. For feedstock and process agent uses of controlled substances, make-up has to be reported, including the emissions generated during their use.

Ozone-depleting potential

The ozone-depleting potential (ODP) of a substance refers to the relative amount of ozone depletion caused by it. It is the ratio of the impact on ozone of the emission of a chemical substance to the impact of a similar emission by mass of CFC-11. The quantity in metric tonnes of a particular controlled substance is multiplied by its ODP to give its overall potential to deplete the ozone layer. For instance, 1 metric tonne of CFC-11 corresponds to 1 ODP tonnes (as its ODP is equal to 1), whilst for bromotrifluoromethane or halon 1301 (with an ODP = 10), 1 metric tonne corresponds to 10 ODP tonnes. The ODPs of controlled and new substances are listed in Annexes I and II of the Ozone Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1005/2009). Some new substances have a range, rather than a single ODP value. In this online data viewer, the highest value of the ODP value range is used.