Across Europe, food retailers are under unprecedented pressure to cut carbon. Corporate net-zero targets, the EU F-Gas III Regulation phase-down (–79 % by 2030 vs 2015), the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and investor ESG scoring all point in the same direction: decarbonise cold chains – fast.
Yet the refrigeration industry has spent the last decade in a polarised debate: “natural” refrigerants (CO2, propane, ammonia) versus “synthetic” low-GWP HFOs. Reality, backed by growing field evidence, is far more nuanced. When both direct (refrigerant leakage) and indirect (energy-related) emissions are calculated over the lifetime of a supermarket system, ultra-low-GWP HFO blends such as Solstice® L40X (R-455A, GWP 146) and Solstice® ze (R-1234ze, GWP <1) are emerging as the fastest, cost effective and most credible path to deep decarbonisation for the majority of European food retail applications.
These HFO-based refrigerants are also a simple and effective solution to a growing reality in certain countries: electricity grid congestion.
Direct emissions are falling fast – but indirect emissions still dominate
Under the current F-Gas quota system, average GWP in new equipment must drop below 400 by 2027 and below 150 by 2032 for centralised systems > 40 kW. R-448A/R-449A (GWP ≈1,400) and even R-452A (GWP ≈2,140) are rapidly becoming obsolete.
CO2 (R-744) transcritical booster systems have been the default “future-proof” choice for many chains. However, real-world Total Equivalent Warming Impact (TEWI*) studies consistently show that the direct-emission advantage of CO2 (GWP = 1) is more than offset by higher energy consumption in all but the very coldest northern-European climates.
Independent studies (Cemafroid, SHECCO, RPA) and Solstice’s Eco-Efficiency model (validated by Cemafroid) show that centralised DX systems using R-455A deliver 8–15 % lower annual energy consumption than equivalent transcritical CO2 booster systems across most of Europe.
When lifetime leakage rates of 6–8 % p.a. (typical for large CO2 installations) are included, the TEWI advantage of R-455A systems reaches 30–60 % in mild and warm climates.
Simpler architecture = lower energy, lower cost, faster rollout
The fundamental reason is system architecture. Transcritical CO2 booster systems require high-pressure components (90–120 bar), complex heat reclaim and ejector strategies, sophisticated oil management, parallel compression and often adiabatic gas coolers.
In contrast, an R-455A or R-1234ze centralised DX or pumped-glycol system is dramatically simpler:
- Operating pressures like R-404A (≈20 bar high side).
- No transcritical cycle, no ejectors, no parallel compression.
- Excellent temperature glide match (R-455A has ≈7 K glide) allowing a single compressor rack to cover both MT and LT with outstanding efficiency down to –40 °C evaporator
- Standard brazed plate or shell-and-tube heat exchangers.
- 20–30 % lower installed cost and 30–50 % faster installation time in both new-build and retrofit scenarios (source: multiple European contractor feedback and Solstice field data).
The result: higher seasonal efficiency, far fewer components fail, and significantly lower service costs.
Safety is no longer a barrier and all equipment and components are available
Both R-455A and R-1234ze are classified as A2L (mildly flammable).
After the 2020–2024 revisions of EN 378 and IEC 60335-2-40, charge limits for A2L refrigerants in commercial refrigeration have risen dramatically (up to 1.2 kg/m³ in occupied spaces with mitigation). Furthermore, all components are approved for A2L refrigerants and are available for new installations. For example, Arneg, the international leader in the design, manufacture and installation of complete equipment for the distribution sector, can supply refrigerated cabinets for displaying all food and frozen products using these A2L refrigerants.
Thousands of European supermarkets already operate safely with R-455A, R-1234yf and R-1234ze systems.
Two flagship examples already operating in Europe
MD S.p.A. – Italy’s second-fastest-growing discount chain – opened its first supermarket using Solstice® L40X (R-455A) in San Giovanni in Persiceto near Bologna in 2023.
Using the independently validated Eco-Efficiency model, MD calculated:
- 25 % lower lifetime CO₂e emissions vs an equivalent CO2 system.
- €260,000 lower total cost of ownership over 15 years (CAPEX + energy + maintenance).
- Faster installation and simpler contractor training. Early 2024–2025 monitoring data confirm the predicted energy savings, and MD has declared R-455A the standard for most of its 30+ annual new stores and remodels.
Q-REF KIBO® chiller – In industrial cold storage (a major Scope 3 contributor for retailers), French OEM Q-REF uses Solstice® ze (R-1234ze) with Danfoss Turbocor oil-free compressors. Independent measurements by Cemafroid and Optienergie at Castang and Coccolo Group sites show:
- COP 5.0–7.0 vs 2.7–3.5 for modern ammonia screw chillers.
- 43–46 % lower annual electricity consumption.
- Zero maintenance after >5,000 operating hours.
- 30 % smaller footprint and dramatically lower noise.
Future-proof against 2030 quotas
R-455A (GWP 146) and R-1234ze (GWP <1) sit comfortably below the 150 GWP threshold that will apply to most centralised systems from 2032 onwards. Unlike higher-GWP HFC/HFO blends still in use (R-448A, R-449A), they face no near-term quota pressure.
The credible decarbonisation path is here today
European food retailers do not need to choose between regulatory compliance and operational reality. Ultra-low-GWP A2L HFO systems using Solstice® L40X (R-455A) and Solstice® ze (R-1234ze) deliver:
- 30–60 % lower lifetime carbon footprint than transcritical CO2 in most climates.
- Simpler, cheaper and faster-to-deploy systems.
- Proven safety under current standards.
- Immediate availability and contractor familiarity.
For most supermarkets south of Scandinavia – and for the cold-storage facilities that supply them – low-GWP HFO A2L technology is not a compromise: it is the fastest, safest and most credible route to genuine decarbonisation available in 2025.
The transition from R-404A, R-448A, R-449A and R-452A has already begun. The evidence from Italy, France, UK and beyond shows that retailers and cold chain operators who act now with low GWP A2L refrigerants like R-455A and R-1234ze will reach their 2030 and 2040 targets sooner, at lower cost, and with far less technical risk.
Connected refrigeration: from technical data to operational control
While the choice of refrigerant is a major lever for reducing the carbon footprint of refrigeration systems, real-time monitoring of operating parameters provides access to additional savings throughout the system’s lifetime.
During operation, it is gradual deviations – often invisible – that lead to fluid loss, overconsumption and breakdowns.
Equipping systems with IoT sensors allows for continuous measurement of pressure, temperature, refrigerant levels, compressor operating cycles and electricity consumption. This data provides a factual and shared view of the actual status of installations, site by site, remotely.
In terms of leak detection, expert detection methods using algorithms analyse normal variations related to the refrigeration charge and define operating benchmarks. Any deviation from this nominal behaviour is detected before it impacts operations. Even a slight drop in refrigerant charge compared to normal is immediately identified and reported. Interventions can be planned earlier, in a targeted manner, without risking significant losses that could lead to breakdowns, which are detrimental to equipment, goods, etc.
This intelligent, early detection reduces refrigerant losses by up to 79%, directly limiting greenhouse gas emissions.
The result: less refrigerant lost, fewer risks, fewer unplanned shutdowns and fewer emissions.
At the same time, optimising settings and monitoring consumption can reduce energy bills by up to 20%. In a context where refrigeration accounts for up to 50% of a supermarket’s energy consumption and in the face of stringent regulatory requirements, reducing indirect emissions is essential.
Measurable, sustainable and compatible savings can be achieved with operational continuity. By making refrigeration performance measurable and visible, connected refrigeration becomes a technical and economic management tool at the heart of decarbonisation in the retail sector.
Conclusion
Solstice Advanced Materials has been working with Climalife for many years to distribute Solstice® refrigerants, providing the market with fast and efficient low GWP solutions. With its expertise and international presence, Climalife ensures the availability of the Solstice® range, including Solstice® L40X (R-455A) and Solstice® ze (R-1234ze), and also offers comprehensive technical support, training programmes for installers and a service and engineering department.
Thanks to this close collaboration, refrigeration professionals benefit from expert advice on system design, safe handling of A2L refrigerants, leak detection requirements and optimising installations for maximum energy efficiency, accelerating the transition for food retailers while meeting the highest standards of safety and performance.
The future of sustainable food retail refrigeration is already on the shelf.
* TEWI = Total Equivalent Warming Impact