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On July 2, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued the \"Announcement on Banning the Production of Polyurethane Products Using 1,1-Dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b) as a Foaming Agent (Draft for Comment)\") and sought public feedback. This means that the use of HCFC-141b as a blowing agent in polyurethane products is to be completely banned, and a transformation is underway in the polyurethane industry. https://mmbiz.qpic.cn/mmbiz_png/7QRTvkK2qC7vQN1WtUbcq3LGIvUp1LAOdFD1qUB2ia9717ur5vcB0UA1QibuXk05zcicQgjH1HicxtuvwvkY5qzGHQ/640 The timeline for implementing this ban is clear, with progress being made in stages. According to the draft guidelines, as of January 1, 2026, the production of polyether and polyurethane products that use HCFC-141b as a blowing agent will be prohibited (with the exception of spray polyurethane foam products). By July 1, 2026, the production of spray polyurethane foam products using HCFC-141b as a blowing agent will be prohibited. This phased phase-out schedule provides companies in the polyurethane industry with clear timelines for transformation. In fact, our country has already taken action to phase out the HCFC-141b blowing agent. Previously, in October 2018 and August 2023, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued announcements prohibiting the production of products such as refrigerators and freezers that use HCFC-141b as a blowing agent, as well as insulation pipes and solar water heaters; as a result, the use of HCFC-141b has been completely eliminated in 5 sub-industries, including those related to refrigerators and freezers. This draft for feedback targets the four sub-industries that still use HCFC-141b as a blowing agent, namely panels, spraying, self-curing coatings, and shoe soles, as well as some niche areas, with the aim of fully achieving the goal of phasing out HCFC-141b in the polyurethane foam industry. https://mmbiz.qpic.cn/mmbiz_png/7QRTvkK2qC7vQN1WtUbcq3LGIvUp1LAOdFD1qUB2ia9717ur5vcB0UA1QibuXk05zcicQgjH1HicxtuvwvkY5qzGHQ/640 Why is it disabled? Protecting the ozone layer is an urgent task. The polyurethane foam industry is one of the main sectors in China that consume ozone-depleting substances such as hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). Among all the HCFCs in use, HCFC-141b has the highest ozone depletion potential (ODP), at 0.11, which means it has a strong ability to damage the ozone layer. The ozone layer is a natural barrier for the Earth, capable of absorbing ultraviolet rays from solar radiation and protecting living organisms on Earth from excessive exposure to such rays. To fulfill the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, and to achieve the phase-out targets set out in the protocol for my country, it is imperative to phase out the HCFC-141b blowing agent. https://mmbiz.qpic.cn/mmbiz_png/7QRTvkK2qC7vQN1WtUbcq3LGIvUp1LAOdFD1qUB2ia9717ur5vcB0UA1QibuXk05zcicQgjH1HicxtuvwvkY5qzGHQ/640 Alternatives are now available, presenting an opportunity for industry transformation. Although the ban on the use of HCFC-141b as a foaming agent represents a significant change, fortunately, the polyurethane foam industry already has several mature alternatives to HCFC-141b, including hydrocarbons, water, hydrofluorocarbons, and fluorinated olefins. These alternative blowing agents have been successfully used in the industry for many years, and they are fully technically viable. Relevant enterprises can choose suitable alternative blowing agents on their own, based on the performance requirements of the products they produce and their ability to bear the associated economic costs. Liu Weidong, secretary-general of the Polyurethane Products Committee of the China Plastics Processing Industry Association, said that the replacement technologies for HCFC-141b in this industry are now quite mature, and the relevant bans will not have a significant impact on the polyurethane products sector. Going forward, the Polyurethane Committee of the China Plastics Association will also work together with environmental protection authorities to boost awareness of relevant regulations, support enterprises in researching alternative technology formulations, improve relevant standards, and assist the industry in fulfilling its project plans. For companies in the polyurethane industry, this ban represents both a challenge and an opportunity. Enterprises need to accelerate technological upgrades and product improvements, actively adopt alternative foaming agents, and meet new environmental regulations. At the same time, this will also drive the entire polyurethane industry in the direction of greater sustainability, environmental friendliness, and green practices, making a positive contribution to the protection of the ozone layer and the global environment. We expect the polyurethane industry to undergo a smooth transformation in this process, achieving coordinated development between the economy and the environment.