Honeywell has defeneded its stance over the development of the refrigerant 1234yf and its relationship with Du Pont, after the EU Commision released a Statement of Objections.
In a statement it said: “The allegations outlined in the Statement of Objections are baseless and conflict with the EU’s own laws that encourage collaboration on development. Honeywell is confident that our practices are consistent with the law and that the Commission will conclude that we acted in full compliance with European Union competition rules.
By collaborating on expensive and risky development, Honeywell and DuPont were able to develop 1234yf in time to meet the MAC Directive’s 2017 deadline.
Thanks to that swift development, HFO-1234yf is currently being used in nearly 2 million cars around the world, reducing the global warming potential of those cars’ air conditioning systems by more than 99.9%.
Honeywell’s and DuPont’s work also ensured a competitive market for HFO-1234yf. Honeywell and DuPont are marketing HFO-1234yf independently and in direct competition with one another.
Honeywell invested in HFO-1234yf at great risk because there was no guarantee of commercial success.
The MAC Directive and far-sighted legislation like it have encouraged Honeywell and other companies to make the investments required to develop new products with far-reaching environmental benefits.
Honeywell has a long history of research and development investment that has brought safe, environmentally-preferable refrigerants to market.
Honeywell pioneered the development of non-ozone-depleting refrigerants and is leading the way in developing the next generation of solutions that dramatically lower global warming potential compared with the products widely used today.”
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See also:
April 7, 2016. Honeywell signs R1234yf deal in China. CoolingPost.com
November 16, 2014. Mercedes takes aim at ‘toxic’ R1234yf air conditioning coolant. Driving.co.uk
October 27, 2014. Chilling effect – EU Commission alleges possible collusion over in car air conditioning systems. Lexology.com.
October 22, 2014. Honeywell hits back over EU Commision’s 1234yf ‘Objection’. Refrigeration and Air Conditioning News.
October 21, 2014. Antitrust: Commission sends Statement of Objections to Honeywell and DuPont regarding cooperation on new refrigerant used in car air conditioning systems. Press release of the European Commission.
October 21, 2014. DuPont Statement: European Commission Investigation. Press Release from Dupont.
August 28, 2013. DuPont president claims lifting of Mercedes ban changes nothing. Refrigeration and Air Conditioning News.
July 31, 2013. EU coolant row heats up. Fleet News.
July 10, 2013. Mercedes in war of words with EU over air-con chemicals. Cold War over refrigerants heats up. The Irish Times.
June 26, 2013. SAE: Controversial new vehicle refrigerant safe. Tire Business.
Dec 15, 2012. Mercedes faces off with Honeywell, DuPont over coolant safety. Automotive News. Reuters.
Sept 9, 2011. Honeywell defends “killer refrigerant” against German opposition. ACR News.
May 17, 2006. Greenhouse gas (HFC-134a) for emissions from air-conditioning systems in motor vehicles and amending. Directive 2006/40/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council. Official Journal of the European Union.
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