Consumption of ozone-depleting substances (Indicator)

Because of their impact on the ozone layer and subsequent adverse effects on human health and ecosystems, ODS are regulated by the and its amendments for a large range of applications. ODS include around 100 individual substances with high ozone-depleting potential such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons. Under the , these fall under the most harmful substances.   

Since 2010, ODS is phased out in the EU due to the EU ozone layer protection policy that has been in place since the 1980s. The ODS consumption has mostly been decreasing between 2010 and 2024. A large part of the decline was due to substituting ODS with fluorinated greenhouse gases, which were subsequently regulated under the EU F-gas Regulations. When considering differences in the ozone-depleting potential among ODS, the consumption was already negative in 2006, mainly due to more destruction (including ODS quantities recovered from old cooling equipment) and exports compared to reduced production levels.  

In 2024, EU consumption of ODS amounted to -661 metric tonnes, down from 1,365 metric tonnes in 2023. Negative consumption means that more of these substances were destroyed or exported than produced or imported. The consumption of ozone-depleting substances, when expressed in metric tonnes, was largely driven by consumption of HCFCs. Expressed in ODP tonnes, consumption in 2024 amounted to -304 ODP tonnes, down from 1,801 ODP tonnes in 2023.

The revised Ozone Regulation from 2024 aims to prevent the equivalent of 180 million tonnes of CO2 and 32,000 tonnes of ozone depleting potential (ODP) emissions by 2050.

Please consult the relevant indicators and signals below for a more comprehensive overview on the topic.