Substitutes in Polyolefin
You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA’s About PDF page to learn more.Substitutes are reviewed on the basis of environmental and health risks, including factors such as ozone depletion potential, global warming potential, toxicity, flammability, and exposure potential. Lists of acceptableacceptableThis designation means that a substitute may be used, without restriction, to replace the relevant ODS within the end-use specified. For example, HCFC-22 is an acceptable substitute for R-502 in industrial process refrigeration. Note that all SNAP determinations apply to the use of a specific product as a substitute for a specific ODS in a specific end-use. and unacceptable
UnacceptableThis designation means that it is illegal to use a product as a substitute for an ODS in a specific end-use. For example, HCFC-141b is an unacceptable substitute for CFC-11 in building chillers. Note that all SNAP determinations apply to the use of a specific product as a substitute for a specific ODS in a specific end-use. substitutes are updated several times each year. The list of acceptable substitutes are shown below.
Note: SNAP-related information published in the Federal Register takes precedence over all information on this page.
Substitute | ODP![]() |
GWP![]() |
SNAP Listing Date | Comments[1] | Flammable |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blends of HCFC-22 / Saturated Light Hydrocarbons (C3-C6) | >0 | N/A | August 26, 1994; July 20, 2015 |
Unacceptable as of September 18, 2015. | NA |
Blends of HFC-152a / Saturated Light Hydrocarbons (C3-C6) | 0 | 3 - 124 | June 16, 2010 | yes | |
Blends of HFC-245fa and HCFC-22 | >0 | N/A | August 21, 2003; July 20, 2015 |
Unacceptable as of September 18, 2015. | no |
Carbon Dioxide | 0 | 1 | March 18, 1994; June 8, 1999 |
no | |
EcomateTM | 0 | 5 or less | September 28, 2006 | yes | |
Electroset Technology | 0 | N/A | August 26, 1994; June 16, 2010 |
N/A | |
Exxsol Blowing Agents | 0 | 5 or less | December 6, 1999; June 16, 2010 |
yes | |
Formacel® TI | 0 | 1,330 - 1,500 | September 30, 2009; July 20, 2015; December 1, 2016 |
Acceptable subject to narrowed use limits for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications and unacceptable for all other uses as of January 1, 2020. Unacceptable for military applications as of January 1, 2022 and for space- and aeronautics- related applications as of January 1, 2025. | no |
HCFC-124 | 0.022 | 609 | July 22, 2002 | Unacceptable Substitute | no |
HCFC-141b | 0.12 | 725 | September 30, 2004; July 20, 2015 |
Unacceptable Substitute | no |
HCFC-142b | 0.065 | 2,310 | March 18, 1994; July 20, 2015 |
Unacceptable as of September 18, 2015. | yes |
HCFC-22 | 0.055 | 1,810 | March 18, 1994; July 20, 2015 |
Unacceptable as of September 18, 2015. | no |
HCFC-22 / HCFC-142b Blends | >0 | N/A | March 18, 1994; July 20, 2015 |
Unacceptable as of September 18, 2015. | no |
HFC-134a | 0 | 1,430 | March 18, 1994; June 8, 1999; July 20, 2015; December 1, 2016 |
HFC-134a and blends thereof acceptable subject to narrowed use limits for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications and unacceptable for all other uses as of January 1, 2020. Unacceptable for military applications as of January 1, 2022 and for space- and aeronautics- related applications as of January 1, 2025. | no |
HFC-143a | 0 | 4,470 | N/A | yes | |
HFC-152a | 0 | 124 | March 18, 1994; June 8, 1999 |
yes | |
HFC-245fa | 0 | 1,030 | December 6, 1999; August 21, 2003; July 20, 2015; December 1, 2016 |
HFC-245fa and blends thereof acceptable subject to narrowed use limits for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications and unacceptable for all other uses as of January 1, 2020. Unacceptable for military applications as of January 1, 2022 and for space- and aeronautics- related applications as of January 1, 2025. | no |
HFC-365mfc | 0 | 794 | September 30, 2009; June 16, 2010; July 20, 2015; December 1, 2016 |
HFC-365mfc and blends thereof acceptable subject to narrowed use limits for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications and unacceptable for all other uses as of January 1, 2020. Unacceptable for military applications as of January 1, 2022 and for space- and aeronautics- related applications as of January 1, 2025. | yes |
HFO-1234ze | 0 | 6 | June 16, 2010 | no | |
Methylene Chloride | 0 | 8.7 | August 26, 1994 | no | |
Saturated Light Hydrocarbons (C3-C6) | 0 | 3 - 10 | March 18, 1994; April 11, 2000; June 16, 2010 |
yes | |
Water | 0 | N/A | June 8, 1999 | no |
1 Use of closed cell foam products and products that contain closed cell foam manufactured with an unacceptable foam blowing agent prohibited on or before the later of: 1) December 1, 2017, or 2) the date when the foam blowing agent is unacceptable.