On December 9, 2025, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued an announcement prohibiting the use of hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) products in specific industries, in accordance with the Regulation on the Administration of Ozone Depleting Substances and the national HCFC phase-out management plan for the cleaning industry. This move aims to fulfill China’s commitments under the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
Background
Since joining the Montreal Protocol in 1991, China has continuously advanced the phase-out and substitution of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) in controlled uses. It has successfully completed the phase-out of five major categories of ODS, including CFCs, halons, carbon tetrachloride, methyl chloroform, and methyl bromide, and is now accelerating the phase-out of HCFCs.
Announcement on Prohibiting the Production of Extruded Polystyrene Foam Products Using HCFCs as Blowing Agents
- Effective Date: From July 1, 2026, the production of extruded polystyrene foam products using HCFCs or mixtures containing HCFCs as blowing agents is prohibited.
- Scope of Control: The extruded polystyrene foam products covered by this announcement refer to rigid foam plastics with a closed-cell structure, produced mainly from polystyrene resin or its copolymers with minor additives, and formed through heated extrusion molding. This includes extruded polystyrene foam products as defined by relevant standards.
List of Standards Defining the Scope of Applicable Extruded Polystyrene Foam Products
|
No. |
Standard Code |
Standard Name |
|
1 |
GB/T 10801.2 |
Extruded polystyrene foam (XPS) for thermal insulation |
|
2 |
GB/T 30595 |
Materials for extruded polystyrene (XPS) board system for building insulation |
|
3 |
QB/T 5166 |
Extruded polystyrene foam plastic (XPS) for cold storage |
|
4 |
QB/T 5167 |
Extruded polystyrene foam plastic (XPS) for geotechnical use |
|
5 |
JC/T 2627 |
Graphite modified extruded polystyrene foam board (GXPS) for building insulation |
The extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam industry is one of the major consumers of HCFCs in China. It uses chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22) or 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (HCFC-142b) as blowing agents to produce products such as foam insulation boards, which are widely used in building insulation, cold chain logistics, and civil engineering. The remaining HCFCs to be phased out in this industry amount to less than 2,000 tons, accounting for only 4.6% of the total phase-out volume for the sector. Alternative technologies in the industry are well-established. Substitute blowing agents such as carbon dioxide, alcohols, hydrofluorocarbons, butane, and dimethyl ether have been successfully applied in the XPS foam industry for years, with sufficient supply and full technical feasibility. The cost of substitution is manageable: while hydrofluorocarbon blowing agents are relatively expensive, alternatives like carbon dioxide, alcohols, butane, and dimethyl ether are more cost-effective. Enterprises may choose suitable alternative blowing agents based on product performance requirements and their economic capacity.
This announcement represents a proactive step in advancing the phase-out of ODS and achieving national compliance goals, demonstrating China’s responsible approach to fulfilling its international environmental commitments. Ecological and environmental authorities at all levels shall urge enterprises to strictly implement the above provisions and ensure the effective phase-out of HCFCs in the polystyrene foam industry. Enterprises that violate these regulations by using HCFCs will be penalized by ecological and environmental authorities in collaboration with relevant departments in accordance with the law.
Further Information
