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Eliminate harmful materials

 

Progress on our promise

Electrolux will protect people and the environment by managing chemicals carefully and continuing to replace those that cause concern.

The roadmap to 2020 Next steps
Implement a best-in-class global system for improving the control of chemicals throughout our complex supply chain and work with suppliers to replace chemicals of concern.
  • Complete the implementation of Eco@web for Asia Pacific, Small Appliances and Professional Food Service Equipment.
Raise the bar on chemical requirements, taking into account new scientific findings.
  • Annual update of the Electrolux Restricted Materials List.
Eliminate all high-impact greenhouse gases from our products.
  • Phase-out foam blowing agents and refrigerants in air conditioning, food preservation and fabric care globally.

​​ On track  

​​ Additional effort is required  

​​ Off track  

​​ Work has not yet begun  

How we measure progress

  1. Level of implementation of Group chemical management tool Eco@web throughout the organization.
  2. Annual update of the Electrolux Restricted Materials List.
  3. Progress on the phase-out of high impact greenhouse gases.

At Electrolux, and among our customers and consumers, we see a shift in the way society views chemicals and their impacts on health and the environment.

The Electrolux Chemicals Office is a central function, which drives the global phase-out of chemicals that may cause concern for customers and consumers or potentially impact the environment. It works throughout our operations and our supply chain. As part of the implementation, Eco@web, an online database system, collects information from suppliers about the chemicals used in our products and components.

Read about
this promise

 

Related reading

Our climate targets

GRI: Emissions of ozone-depleting substances

We continually raise the bar on the level of acceptance on the chemicals used in our products, sharing best practice around the world and anticipating legal restrictions. 

We’re taking action to replace high-impact greenhouse gases (hydro fluorocarbons or HFCs) with lower impact alternatives. With rising sales of air conditioners, it is especially important to ensure the prompt replacement of high-impact greenhouse gases, which make this ambitious goal crucial to our sustainability agenda.

At Electrolux Australia, as well as in countries in Asia, the phase-out of HFCs in refrigerators was completed ahead of legislation, and we are in the process of doing the same in other markets, such as China and Brazil. A large manufacturing site in the US has already replaced the HFC blowing agent with cyclopentane, anticipating legal requirements. Other North American operations will follow suit by 2020.

In 2005, gases with a high global warming potential accounted for 14% of the total CO2 emissions. The goal, as part of our climate targets, is their complete elimination. Some ozone-depleting refrigerants are still used in small amounts in air conditioners and work is ongoing to phase out these substances.

The challenges and barriers

  • Driving the phase out of chemicals where it is not supported by regulation.
  • Substituting HFCs in air conditioners, where there are no common industry solutions available and where suppliers play an important role.
  • Replacement of HFCs as a refrigerant in the US, where safety regulation limits the use of alternatives.

Replacing HFCs needs to be driven industry-wide, because solutions are dependent on legislation that enables viable alternatives.