#Japan #Tokyo #circular economy #Refrigerant #A-Gas Japan

Advancing the Circular Economy for Refrigerants

The journey of household air conditioners often comes to an end when they reach the end of their lifespan. However, a critical question arises: what happens to the refrigerants left inside?

Typically, used air conditioners are transported to appliance recycling plants. If there is no proper recovery and regeneration process in place, valuable refrigerant resources could be lost to the environment, contributing to climate change as these gases escape into the atmosphere.

To combat this issue, A-Gas Japan has embarked on a mission to reclaim and regenerate used refrigerants from air conditioning units, ultimately supplying high-quality regenerated refrigerants back into the market. In recent months, A-Gas Japan has established a cooperative framework with various appliance recycling plants across the country, aiming to promote the circular use of refrigerants. This initiative involves collecting refrigerants from used air conditioners and processing them in A-Gas Japan’s regeneration facilities. The end goal is to reduce reliance on newly manufactured refrigerants and contribute to a more sustainable air conditioning and refrigeration industry.

These partnerships represent a significant step in strengthening the circular economy for refrigerants in Japan. By reclaiming and reusing refrigerants already in circulation, A-Gas Japan and its partner companies are effectively utilizing valuable resources, reducing waste, minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting responsible refrigerant management across the entire lifecycle.

Once the refrigerants are recovered from the used air conditioners by partner companies, they are transported to A-Gas Japan’s dedicated regeneration facilities. Here, they undergo analysis and quality inspection, followed by regeneration treatment that adheres to internationally recognized industry standards, including the AHRI Standard 700. This meticulous process ensures that the regenerated refrigerants meet the same high-quality levels as new refrigerants, allowing them to be reintroduced into the market for reuse.

Naohisa Kobayashi, the CEO of A-Gas Japan, emphasizes, “The reclaimed refrigerant is a crucial resource supporting the transition to a circular economy. By combining the refrigerant recovery capacities of our partner companies with A-Gas’s regeneration technologies, we can facilitate the longer circulation of refrigerants and contribute to reducing environmental impact.”

The collection and regeneration of refrigerants play a vital role in minimizing the environmental burden of the air conditioning and refrigeration sectors. Rather than relying solely on newly manufactured refrigerants, it is possible to regenerate and verify the quality of existing refrigerant resources, enabling their reuse in cooling systems.

This initiative highlights the importance of collaboration across various sectors involved in refrigerant collection, recycling, logistics, and management. By linking collection efforts at appliance recycling plants with specialized regeneration technologies, A-Gas Japan is contributing to a more circular and sustainable future for the air conditioning and refrigeration industry in Japan.

Together We Can.

Naohisa Kobayashi, CEO of A-Gas Japan
www.agas.com/jp/