[미국] 케무어스·하니웰, 그리스 불법 냉매 수입 막고자 유럽 연합 당국과 협력

유럽의 탈탄소화 및 전 세계 기후 목표 달성하고자 불법 냉매 탐지 및 압수

지적 재산권 보호뿐 아니라 지역 사회 및 지구 지키는 노력의 일환

케무어스 컴퍼니(Chemours)가 지난 18일 불법 불소화 가스를 막고자 그리스 개발부(DIMEA), 그리스 경찰 및 그리스 세관의 시장 통제기관과 협력한다고 발표했다.

그리스 관리에 따르면, 자동차 냉매로 사용된 R-1234yf를 비롯한 15.6톤의 무허가 냉매가 유효한 특허를 침해하거나 불법으로 간주되는 것으로 결정됐다. 이러한 불법 제품들은 지구뿐만 아니라 노동자를 보호하는 과정에서 2023년 연말 이전에 안전하게 폐기될 예정이다.

케무어스 컴퍼니는 티타늄 기술, 열·특수 솔루션, 고성능 재료 분야에서 선도적인 시장 지위를 가진 글로벌 화학 회사다.

케무어스는 냉매 혁신의 지적 재산권을 보호하고 불법 냉매를 탐지·압수하고자 하니웰(Honeywell)과 협력했다. 지적 재산권을 보호할 뿐만 아니라 불법 수입 활동의 결과로부터 사람, 기업, 지역 사회 및 지구를 보호하는 지속적 노력의 일환이다.

유럽 연합과 미국 등 기타 지역에서 수소불화탄소(HFC)의 단계적 감축이 진행됨에 따라 냉매의 암시장 활동이 기하급수적으로 증가할 것으로 예상된다.

조 마틴코(Joe Martinko) 케무어스 임시 사장은 “냉매는 유럽의 탈탄소화 목표에서 중요한 역할을 하므로 규제되지 않은 제품이 시장에 더 많이 진입할수록 기후 목표 달성은 지연된다”며 “케무어스는 냉매 제품의 지적 재산권을 보호하고 불법 거래를 막을 뿐만 아니라 서비스를 제공하는 고객 및 산업에 대해 책임을 다하겠다”고 밝혔다.

릭 위닉(Rick Winick) 하니웰 부사장 겸 총괄 책임자는 “지난 몇 년 동안 하니웰은 업계 파트너 및 유럽 연합 당국과 끊임없이 협력해 많은 고객이 전 세계에서 기후 목표를 달성할 수 있도록 돕고자 노력할 것”이라고 설명했다.

유럽사기방지청(OLAF)의 보고서에 따르면 2021년에만 여러 국가에서 230톤 이상의 불법 수입 냉매가 압수됐다. 불소화가스 냉매의 불법 거래는 탄화수소, 불순물과 같이 알려지지 않은 가연성 내용물을 포함할 수 있어 위험하다. 불법 냉매는 기후 목표를 훼손하고 작업자의 안전을 위협하며 순환 경제 달성을 방해한다.

그리스 당국은 “우리는 불법 불소화가스 및 특허 침해 가스의 수입을 막기 위한 노력의 일부가 돼 자랑스럽게 생각한다”며 “이러한 노력에 동참하는 케무어스와 하니웰에 박수를 보낸다”고 말했다.

케무어스 컴퍼니는 티타늄 기술, 열 솔루션, 고급 성능 제품 분야의 글로벌 리더로서 화학 기반 혁신을 통해 광범위한 산업 분야의 솔루션을 고객에게 제공한다. 주로 코팅, 플라스틱, 냉동 및 공조, 운송, 반도체 및 소비자 전자 제품, 석유 및 가스 등 넓은 범위의 산업에서 활동한다. 케무어스 컴퍼니는 미국 델라웨어 주에 본사를 두고 있다.

하니웰은 항공우주 제품 및 서비스를 포함하는 산업별 솔루션을 제공한다. 건물 및 산업을 위한 제어 기술로 항공기, 건물, 제조 공장 등 근로자를 긴밀하게 연결해 세상을 안전하게 만드는 데 노력한다.

[원문보기]

Chemours and Honeywell Partner With Authorities in the European Union to Stop Illegal Refrigerant Imports in Greece

Ongoing efforts are critical to achieving global goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, ensuring supply chain integrity and supporting strong economies.

 

The Chemours Company (“Chemours”) (NYSE: CC), a global chemistry company with leading market positions in Titanium Technologies, Thermal & Specialized Solutions, and Advanced Performance Materials, and Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON), today announced they have engaged with the Interagency for Market Control of the Hellenic Ministry of Development (DIMEA), the Hellenic Police, and Hellenic Customs to stop illegal fluorinated gas (F-gas) refrigerants from entering the European Union (EU) at the Greek border. Approximately 15.6 tons of suspected unauthorized refrigerants including R-1234yf used as an automotive refrigerant were seized, tested, and determined to infringe valid patents or deemed illegal in the European Union, according to Greek officials. These illegal products will be safely destroyed before year-end 2023 in a process that protects workers as well as the planet.

Chemours collaborated with Honeywell in the operation to protect the Intellectual Property (IP) of refrigerant innovations owned by both companies and to detect and confiscate illegal F-gases. These efforts are part of an ongoing commitment by Chemours and Honeywell to not only protect IP, but to defend people, businesses, communities and the planet against the ramifications of illegal import activities. As phasedowns of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) progress in the EU, United States, and elsewhere, black market activities of refrigerants are expected to increase exponentially, driving authorities and companies like Chemours and Honeywell to collaborate on educating invested parties as well as strengthening enforcement efforts to deter illegal trade of HFCs.

“Chemours stands strong in our responsibility to the customers and industries we serve, as well as achieving global climate goals, to protect the IP of our refrigerant products and work with credible resources to prevent illegal trade,” said Joe Martinko, interim president of Thermal & Specialized Solutions at Chemours. “F-gases play a pivotal role in Europe’s decarbonization goals through a variety of critical industries that rely on low-global warming potential (GWP) heating and cooling solutions. There is much at stake from the use of illegal products and the damage it can have on the supply chain. Moreover, illegals sabotage regional, national, and global efforts to ensure a sustainable, healthy planet. The more unregulated volumes of product that enter the market, the greater the delay in meeting climate objectives.”

“Over the last several years, Honeywell has worked tirelessly with industry partners and EU authorities to stop infringement through outreach and education, being committed to helping customers meet their ambitious climate targets in Europe and around the world with the adoption of energy-efficient, low-GWP hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs), which are critical for driving environmental transformation in the automotive industry and beyond,” said Rick Winick, vice president and general manager, Honeywell Automotive Refrigerants.

Reports by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) have shown that in 2021 alone, more than 230 tons of illegally imported F-gases were seized in multiple countries. Illegal trade of F-gas refrigerants poses threats in several areas, mainly because these “products” are unauthorized and may have unknown flammable contents such as hydrocarbons, impurities, and other contaminants. Illegal refrigerants can undermine climate objectives and disrupt the transition to lower-GWP refrigerants, erode the supply chain and economies that surround it, threaten the safety of workers, and compromise rapidly accelerating efforts to achieve a circular economy.

“We are proud to be part of a concentrated effort to stop the import of illegal F-gases and Patent Infringing Gases into the EU and, consequently, help prevent illicit practices that otherwise would prove to be destructive to economies, people’s health and wellness, and the future of our planet,” Greek officials stated. “We applaud companies such as Chemours and Honeywell, who are passionate about using their platforms and leveraging their resources to join us in these efforts. Our recent mission at the Greek border demonstrated that with collaboration and dedication by strong leaders, we can restore order and keep national and global sustainability missions on track.”

Both Chemours and Honeywell recognize and appreciate the strong efforts by Greek officials and OLAF working with private industry to support patent rights and combat the illegal import of F-gases.

In addition to collaborating with enforcement authorities, the two companies actively communicate with customers, vendors, and other stakeholders to raise awareness about the importance of avoiding illegal and Patent Infringing products. The efforts aim to help businesses protect themselves from the negative legal impacts of buying or selling illegal products and promotes responsible practices in the industry.

To learn more about Europe’s continued efforts to counter illegal import activity, visit stopillegalcooling.eu.

About The Chemours Company

The Chemours Company (NYSE: CC) is a global leader in Titanium Technologies, Thermal & Specialized Solutions, and Advanced Performance Materials providing its customers with solutions in a wide range of industries with market-defining products, application expertise and chemistry-based innovations. We deliver customized solutions with a wide range of industrial and specialty chemicals products for markets, including coatings, plastics, refrigeration and air conditioning, transportation, semiconductor and consumer electronics, general industrial, and oil and gas. Our flagship products are sold under prominent brands such as Ti-Pure™, Opteon™, Freon™, Teflon™, Viton™, Nafion™, and Krytox™. The company has approximately 6,600 employees and 29 manufacturing sites serving approximately 2,900 customers in approximately 120 countries. Chemours is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware and is listed on the NYSE under the symbol CC.

For more information, we invite you to visit chemours.com or follow us on Twitter @Chemours or LinkedIn.

About Honeywell

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) delivers industry-specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom.

[출처 = 케무어스 컴퍼니(Chemous Company)(http://https://www.chemours.com/en/news-media-center/all-news/press-releases/2023/chemours-and-honeywell-partner-with-authorities-in-the-european-union-to-stop-illegal-refrigerant-im) / 2023년 7월 18일]