This undated photo shows a worker injecting refrigerant into freezers on a production line at a kitchen utensils manufacturer in Binzhou, Shandong province. Image provided to China Daily
Environment ChinaChina Eliminates Ozone-Depleting Chemicals from Solvent Industry
China has completed the phase-out of ozone-depleting hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) in its solvent industry, marking a major step towards protecting the ozone layer.
“What we have achieved here demonstrates that industrial transformation and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand,” said Stefan Liller, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in China.
The milestone follows a nationwide ban on HCFCs in cleaning agents that took effect on 1 July 2026. Since 2016, UNDP and Chinese environmental authorities have worked together to help 53 enterprises across 12 provinces switch to alternative substances. This achievement marks three decades of efforts under the Montreal Protocol, which China joined in 1991, and shows how international cooperation can support cleaner industrial practices and long-term environmental protection.
