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Greenhouse Gases in Consumer Products
This page last reviewed on June 17, 2010
High GWP Consumer Products
This page provides information on the current and
past activities relating to the implementation of this measure.
Background:
On October
25, 2007, the ARB approved a list of
early action measures
to
reduce greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions. Reduction
of compounds
with high global warming potential (GWP) that are used in consumer products
was designated as one
of these
measures, and became part of the State’
s comprehensive strategy when
the Board
approved the
Scoping
Plan
on December 12, 2008.
This measure can be found on page C-179, of the scoping
plan.
Limiting the use of
high GWP compounds in consumer products is a
long-term effort. This
measure is
only a small part of a much larger program, ARB’s
Consumer
Products Program.
Various
consumer products may contain GHGs in their
formulations. Products containing high GWP GHGs
include
pressurized containers that utilize nitrous oxide (N2O) including aerosol cheese and dessert toppings, as
well as hydrofluorocarbon
(HFC) propellant products such as boat horns, pressurized gas dusters, and tire inflators.
Strategy
Description: The objective of the consumer
products early action measure is to reduce the impact of compounds with
high
GWPs when alternatives are available. Consumer product formulations may
be
required to reduce or eliminate the use of GHGs with high GWPs.
Global Warming
Potential (GWP) Values for Compounds Used in Consumer Products
2007
IPCC
Report: GWP Values can be found in Chapter 2,
"Changes in Atmospheric Constituents
and in-Radative Forcing," Table 2.14, pages 212-213. Table
2.14
includes the Fourth Assessment Report GWP values and as a courtesy to
the reader, a column with the Second Assessment Report 100-year GWP
values. Table 2.15, page 215 includes GWP values for select
organic compounds.
What's New
May 5,
2009
Proposed
2009 Amendments to the Consumer Products Regulation
In accordance with AB 32, we are proposing to
prohibit the use of
compounds with global warming potential (GWP) values of 150 or greater
in
“Double Phase Aerosol Air Freshener,” “Multi-Purpose Solvent,” and
“Paint Thinner.” These
provisions are contained in new subsections
94509(t) and (u) (pp. 224-225).
These
proposals are intended to minimize the climate change impacts of
products
reformulated to comply with the proposed VOC limits. More information
regarding
the development of this proposal is available on the 2009 Thinners and Solvents Consumer Products Regulatory Work
Group Activity page.
Past Events
GWP
Limit on Pressurized Gas Duster (PGD) Products:
2008 Amendments to the
California Consumer Products Regulation
At
its June 26, 2008, hearing, the Board approved amendments that would
set new or lower VOC limits for 25 categories of consumer products.
OAL
approved the rulemaking and filed it with the
Secretary of State on June 18, 2009. The regulation will become
effective on July 18, 2009.
Additionally, the June 2008 amendments established the first limit to
reduce the impact of Pressurized Gas Duster product emissions on global
warming. Limiting the emissions of GHGs in the category is
equivalent to reducing about 0.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide
equivalent per year. Provisions for PGDs are contained in title 17, CCR,
subsections
94509(r) and
94510(c).
2008 Pressurized Gas Duster Survey Update
