Govt greenlights regulations

Today the Minister for the Environment, Hon. Penny Simmonds, announced the drafting of regulations to support our sector and the Cool-Safe product stewardship scheme.

Product stewardship is when a producer, brand owner, importer, retailer or consumer accepts responsibility for reducing a product’s environmental impact throughout all stages of the product’s life cycle.

Our scheme, which has already demonstrated its impact in reducing environmental harm, will soon be mandatory for all stakeholders in the refrigerant lifecycle. By ensuring proper disposal, tracking, and training, Cool-Safe will help ensure that New Zealand meets its climate goals and protects our environment for generations to come.

The Cool-Safe scheme remains voluntary until regulations are in place. “Putting regulations in place is an important step in making sure everyone involved in the synthetic refrigerants industry plays their part in reducing the environmental impact of their products,” Ms Simmonds says.

“Emissions from synthetic refrigerants are mostly due to leaks from poor equipment installation and management, or from improper disposal. A product stewardship scheme will significantly reduce these emissions."

“I congratulate the Trust on leading a scheme that will make a real difference in reducing these emissions and managing the environmental impact of these products.”

We look forward to partnering with the industry to create a cleaner, more sustainable future.

More information on the Cool-Safe product stewardship scheme will be available in the new year.

The Minister's press release can be read in full here: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/reducing-environmental-impact-synthetic-refrigerants