FOAM	SECTOR	STAKEHOLDER	WORKSHOP

April	26, 2013

10:00	AM	– 12:00	PM	EST

1310	L	Street	NW,	Washington	DC,	Room	152

Concept	Note:	Foams	Sector	Stakeholder	Workshop

EPA	is	hosting	a	workshop	for	interested	stakeholders	to	exchange	information	on	the	

foams	sector,	one	of	the	sectors	considered	under	the	Significant	New	Alternatives	Policy	

(SNAP)	program	and	included	for	analytical	purposes	in	EPA’s	Vintaging	Model.	The	

purpose	of	this	meeting	is	to	foster	dialogue	between	stakeholders	and	EPA and	discuss	

information	on	the	current	and	future	state	of	the	foams	sector.	Toward	that	end,	EPA	will	

share	information	on	the	status	of	national	and	global	activities	relevant	to	stakeholders	in	

the	foams sector,	and	will	provide	an	overview	of	our	current	understanding	of	market	

conditions	and	forces	affecting	the	sector. We	will	also	provide	time	for	exchange	and	

discussion,	and	open	communication	lines	for	further	data	exchange,	to	allow	us	to	review	

and	update	our	understanding	of	the	foams	sector. Because	our	aim	is	for	a	broad	update	

across	affected	sectors,	this	is	the	second	meeting	in	a	series	and	subsequent	meetings	will	

be	held	for other	sectors.

SNAP	is	EPA's	program	to	evaluate	and	list	substitutes	for	the	ozone-depleting	substances	

(ODS) being	phased	out	under	the	Clean	Air	Act	(CAA).	Section	612(c) of	the	CAA

authorizes	EPA	to	identify	and	publish	lists	of	acceptable	and	unacceptable	substitutes	for	

ODS.	A	large	number	of	alternatives	exist	that	reduce	overall	risk	to	human	health	and	the	

environment.	SNAP’s	goal	is	to	encourage	a	smooth	transition	from	ODS	by	identifying	

substitutes	that	offer	lower	overall	risks	to	human	health	and	the	environment. SNAP	has	

reviewed	substitutes	for	industrial	sectors	including	but	not	limited	to:	Aerosols,	Foam	

Blowing	Agents,	Cleaning	Solvents,	Fire	Suppression,	Refrigeration	&	Air	Conditioning	and	

Adhesives,	Coatings	&	Inks.	The	Vintaging	Model	is	the	tool	that	EPA	uses	to	assess	

consumption	and	emissions	of	ODS	and	alternatives.

Foams	are	plastics	(such	as	polyurethane	or	polystyrene)	that	are	manufactured	using	

blowing	agents	to	create	bubbles	or	cells	in	the	material's	structure.	The	foam	plastics	

manufacturing	industries,	the	markets	they	serve	and	the	blowing	agents	used	are	

extremely	varied.	For	example,	some	products	using	foams	include building	materials,	

appliance	insulation,	cushioning,	furniture,	packaging	materials,	containers,	flotation	

devices,	filler,	sound	proofing	and	shoes.	

Historically,	a	variety	of	CFCs	and	HCFCs	have	been	used	as	foam	blowing	agents because	of	

their	favorable	chemical	properties.	In	1973	chemists	Sherwood	Rowland	and	Mario	

Molina	began	studying	effects	of	CFCs	on	the	earth’s	atmosphere.	They	discovered	that	

CFCs	were	stable	enough	to	migrate	to	the	stratosphere	and	that	the	chlorine	atoms	

contained	in	these	molecules	could	break	down	large	amounts	of	ozone	in	the	stratosphere.	
In	1978,	the	United	States	took	the	first	steps	towards	reducing	use	and	emissions	of	CFCs	

by	banning	their	use	as propellants in	aerosol	products.

Under	the	Montreal	Protocol	on	Substances	that	Deplete	the	Ozone	Layer and	Clean	Air	Act	

ODS	are	subject	to	a	phaseout	of	production	and	consumption	and	under	the	CAA	foam	

blowing	agents	are	subject	to	additional	regulations,	including	a	ban on	sale	and	

distribution	of	foams	made	with	CFCs	or	HCFCs	with	few	exceptions.	

A range	of	alternatives have	been	found	to	be	acceptable	under	the	SNAP	program	

including hydrofluorocarbons	(HFCs)	(e.g.,	HFC-134a,	HFC-245fa,	HFC-365mfc),

hydrocarbons,	carbon	dioxide,	water,	and	methyl	formate.	Other	acceptable	low-GWP	

fluorinated	compounds	in	use	include HFO-1234ze and	Solstice	1233zd(E).	Also,	additional	

alternatives	are	under	development	such	as	Formacel-1100.	

Agenda

1. Welcome	&	Introductions

2. Background

a. Montreal	Protocol	&	Clean	Air	Act

b. Significant	New	Alternatives	Policy	(SNAP) Program

c. Vintaging	Model

3. Discussion

a. In	many	sectors	the	SNAP	program	is	receiving	an	increased	number	of	

submissions.	Are new	substitutes anticipated?	Are	additional	transitions	

with existing	alternatives	anticipated?

b. What	benefits	have	you	seen	from	transitions?	Decreased	cost?	Support	

sustainability	goals?	Better	for	the	environment,	performance?

c. Where	a	transition	has	been	made,	particularly	to	climate-friendly	

alternatives,	what	benefits	have	you	experienced	from	making	the	change?	

d. What	are	the	barriers	precluding transition	to	safer	alternatives?

e. What	additional	information	can	be	provided	by	individual	companies	or	by	

trade	associations	to	inform	the	Vintaging	Model?