Core Points - The new regulation aims to fulfill the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol, targeting the elimination of HCFC-141b as a blowing agent in polyurethane products by January 1, 2026 [1][2] - The polyurethane foam industry is a major consumer of ozone-depleting substances, specifically HCFCs, with HCFC-141b being the most significant due to its high ozone depletion potential (ODP) of 0.11 [2] - China has already achieved the first and second phase elimination targets, freezing HCFC-141b consumption in the polyurethane foam industry at baseline levels in 2013 and reducing it by 80% by 2023 [2] Industry Overview - The polyurethane foam industry includes various sectors such as refrigerated containers, refrigerators, electric water heaters, insulation pipes, solar water heaters, and more [1][2] - The majority of companies in the board production sector are small to medium-sized enterprises, with around 250 companies primarily located in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, and Henan [3] - Since 2011, multilateral fund grants have supported 21 board production companies in replacing HCFC-141b, resulting in the elimination of approximately 3,644 tons, which is 29.2% of the total HCFC-141b that needs to be phased out in this sector [3] Progress and Remaining Challenges - Additional estimates suggest that companies have transitioned or utilized their own funds to eliminate around 8,750 tons of HCFC-141b, leaving less than 50 tons remaining to be phased out in the board sector, which is less than 0.4% of the total [4] - The spray foam sector also consists mainly of small to medium-sized enterprises, with about 300 companies located in Shandong, Jiangsu, Beijing, and Hebei [4] - Since 2011, grants have supported four spray foam companies in eliminating approximately 226 tons of HCFC-141b, accounting for 2.5% of the total required elimination in this sector [4] Alternatives and Future Plans - There are various mature alternatives to HCFC-141b available in the polyurethane foam industry, including hydrocarbons, water, hydrofluorocarbons, and fluorinated olefins, which have been successfully applied for years [5] - The cost of hydrocarbons and water-based blowing agents is relatively low, while hydrofluorocarbons and fluorinated olefins are more expensive [5] - In 2025, multilateral fund grants will support 15 combination ether companies in technical upgrades to eliminate HCFC-141b and promote alternative products in the relevant sectors [5]