By Chris Chisman, Managing Director, Abbey Design Associates, a Lowe Rental company
DEFRA’s newly opened consultation on reforms to the F-gas Regulation may not be grabbing headlines just yet, but make no mistake, this is one of the most consequential policy shifts facing retailers, foodservice operators and the wider built-environment community in years.
The proposal, which is open until 17 December, sets out a steeper phasedown of refrigerant Global Warming Potential (GWP). Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), are the refrigerant gases that underpin everything from supermarket chillers to restaurant freezers and HVAC systems and have very high GWP levels.
The current regulation already mandates a dramatic reduction in HFC availability, targeting a 79 per cent cut by 2030 relative to baseline levels. DEFRA is now signalling an even deeper, faster descent. A sharper drop from 2027, followed by sustained quota reductions through to 2050, culminating in a 98.6 per cent phasedown by 2048.
For an industry built on reliability and long-term asset planning, this is very much a structural reset.
The numbers look small, but the impact won’t be. On paper, the proposal’s shift from a 24 per cent quota allocation in 2027 to 16.2 per cent, might appear incremental. But the headline figure masks the real significance. These percentages are relative to the 2015 baseline.
When translated into today’s availability, that 16.2 per cent quota represents a near 50 per cent reduction compared to current levels.
And crucially, this arrives in just over a year.
Many businesses are still installing high-GWP systems today. These assets often have lifespans of well over a decade. But with availability tightening and the price and volatility of HFCs likely to rise in response, operators risk locking themselves into future constraints, higher maintenance costs, and avoidable compliance headaches.
The transition isn’t optional. The only choice is how prepared you are. The consultation aligns squarely with the government’s climate and sustainability ambitions, but it also lands at a moment of intense financial pressure for operators. Every investment decision already carries scrutiny. Yet the reality is unavoidable. Reduced HFC availability will accelerate the need to transition to lower-GWP refrigeration solutions, whether businesses feel ready or not.
This is why planning ahead becomes mission-critical. Operators need to look across their estates, understand where equipment sits in its lifecycle, and assess whether a proactive shift now will ultimately reduce risk and cost. Capital expenditure will be unavoidable for many. But the businesses that treat this as an opportunity for long-term resilience, rather than an unwelcome compliance burden, will be the ones best positioned to thrive.
What operators should do next
There are no magic bullets here, and there is no quick workaround. Refrigeration is complex, energy-intensive, and operationally fundamental. But there are strategies that can put businesses firmly in control of their futures.
Adopt robust design and specification strategies
Engineering-led approaches that prioritise longevity, adaptability, and operational efficiency will be essential. Now is the time to scrutinise whether current systems are designed to withstand the regulatory (and environmental) pressures of the next two decades.
Prioritise genuine low-GWP alternatives
Many operators still rely on legacy systems or are investing in mid-GWP solutions that offer only temporary relief. The coming phasedown leaves little room for half-measures.
Optimise what you already have
Every high GWP site will require a full system overhaul eventually. However reducing leakage and banking high GWP refrigerant recovered from older systems, businesses can stagger capital costs over a longer period and help spread capital costs over time.
Factor refrigerant strategy into corporate sustainability and financial planning
Refrigeration can no longer be treated as a technical afterthought. It’s fast becoming a strategic priority with direct implications for environmental reporting, cost forecasting and long-term estate planning.
My message to operators is straightforward. If you’re unsure how your estates will be affected by these proposed changes, now is the time to act and get in touch for a more tailored conversation around your needs. Future-proofing now means engineering refrigeration infrastructure that’s resilient, sustainable, and capable of meeting both today’s operational needs and tomorrow’s environmental standards.
The best-prepared businesses will be those who recognise the scale of this shift and fundamentally start preparing for it today.
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