• Synthetic refrigerants such as R410A and R32 are widely used in heat pumps and air conditioners.

• R410A has a GWP of 2088 → 1 kg emission is equivalent to 2,088 kg CO₂.

• R32 has a GWP of 675 → 1 kg emission is equivalent to 675 kg CO₂.

• For comparison: an average petrol car emits about 120–150 grams of CO₂ per km.

• Natural refrigerants (such as CO₂/R744, propane/R290 and ammonia/R717) have a very low climate impact.

• Due to European F-gas regulations, the use of synthetic refrigerants is increasingly restricted.

What is a synthetic refrigerant?

Synthetic refrigerants are artificially produced substances that transport heat in cooling systems, air conditioners and heat pumps.

Earlier variants (such as CFCs) were harmful to the ozone layer. Nowadays, mainly HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons) are used. These do not damage the ozone layer, but often still have a high climate impact in case of leakage.

The impact is expressed in GWP (Global Warming Potential).

GWP indicates how much stronger a gas contributes to the greenhouse effect compared to CO₂.
CO₂ has by definition a GWP of 1.

Common synthetic refrigerants

R410A (HFC) – the standard for many years

Period: ± 2005–2022 widely used
Type: HFC
GWP: ± 2088

Characteristics:

• Non-flammable (safety class A1)

• Good performance

• Many existing installations still operate on this

Environmental impact of R410A

The climate impact of R410A is significant:

• 1 kg R410A = 2,088 kg CO₂-equivalent

• This is roughly equivalent to:

  • 14,000 – 17,000 car kilometres

  • Or over 10,000 kWh of grey electricity generation

An average residential heat pump contains quickly 1 to 2 kg of refrigerant. In case of complete leakage, the climate impact can therefore be comparable to several years of car use.

That is exactly why the European F-gas regulation strongly focuses on phase-out.

R32 (HFC) – current standard

Period: ± 2016 – present
Type: HFC
GWP: ± 675

Characteristics:

• Slightly flammable (A2L – low flammability)

• Higher efficiency than R410A

• Less refrigerant needed per installation

Environmental impact of R32

R32 is a clear improvement compared to R410A:

• 1 kg R32 = 675 kg CO₂-equivalent

• This is equivalent to:

  • Approximately 4,500 – 5,500 car kilometres

That is about 70% lower climate impact than R410A.

But: 675 times stronger than CO₂ remains substantial. Therefore, R32 will also be further phased out within Europe in the long term.

What is a natural refrigerant?

Natural refrigerants are substances that occur naturally, such as:

• CO₂ (R744)

• Ammonia (R717)

• Hydrocarbons such as propane (R290)

They differ from synthetic refrigerants (F-gases) because they:

• Are not fluorinated greenhouse gases

• Do not damage the ozone layer

• Have a low GWP

Climate impact of natural refrigerants

For comparison:

• R410A → 2088

• R32 → 675

• CO₂ → 1

This means that 1 kg of R410A has the same climate impact as 2088 kg of CO₂, while 1 kg of CO₂ refrigerant equals… 1 kg of CO₂.

That difference is enormous.

Why is this relevant for installers?

The market is moving fast. And regulations even faster.

The European F-gas regulation drives:

• Phased reduction of HFCs

• Higher requirements regarding leak tightness

• Stricter certification

• Promotion of natural alternatives

For you as an installer, this means:

• Installations are increasingly supplied with R32 or R290

• Knowledge of A2L and A3 refrigerants becomes more important

• Safety standards are changing (more flammable refrigerants)

• Stock and project choices must be future-proof

The transition to sustainable energy goes beyond just solar panels. Sustainability is becoming increasingly important within HVAC as well.

What does this mean for the environmental impact of an installation?

A heat pump is seen as a sustainable solution. And rightly so — especially in combination with solar panels.

But:

The total environmental burden of a system is partly determined by the refrigerant used.

A leakage of 1 kg of R410A can temporarily negate part of the climate gain. That is why natural refrigerants are becoming increasingly attractive, both technically and policy-wise.

More and more manufacturers are therefore switching to:

• R290 (propane) heat pumps

• CO₂ systems in commercial applications

Future: from synthetic to natural

The trend is clear:

1. R410A → phased out

2. R32 → interim solution

3. R290 / CO₂ → future-proof

In the coming years, the focus will increasingly be on:

• Low GWP

• Higher energy efficiency

• Safe application

• Regulation-compliant design

Conclusion

Synthetic refrigerants have functioned well in the market for many years. But the climate impact — expressed in GWP — makes further sustainability necessary.

• R410A (GWP 2088) → high climate impact

• R32 (GWP 675) → improved, but still significant

• Natural refrigerants (GWP 0–3) → future-proof

For installers, knowledge of refrigerants is no longer a side issue. It is part of professional advice and future-oriented system choice.

And that is exactly where we at 4blue make the difference: together, full of energy.

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