Opinions from Stakeholders

Hopes for Non-Fluorine Technology

As the only company in the world to manufacture both air-conditioners and their refrigerants, Daikin deals with the global warming problem in every aspect of its business. I hope the company develops leading-edge technology that goes into use around the world.

Air-conditioner efficiency is an indispensable part of the consumer side of the equation. Almost 100% of Daikin's air-conditioners meet energy efficiency standards. It's also assuring to know that already 3% of Daikin products meet the 2010 standards. To meet the targets under the Kyoto Protocol, the government must accelerate measures to spread the use of these highly efficient products. By making overseas production bases the starting point in developing products designed for local needs and by giving these bases production processes with the same level of energy efficiency as Japanese plants, Daikin is not only boosting its competitiveness; it is making an international contribution.

I congratulate Daikin on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 70% compared to 2001. Since fluorocarbons have a high greenhouse effect, it is important to take measures to reduce them and replace them with alternative HFCs. I see that Daikin has set a target of achieving an HFC emission ratio of 0.4% or less by 2010 and is aggressively recovering and destroying such fluorocarbons. I hope Daikin will be thorough and careful in use of HCFC 22 as an intermediary substance since it generates the by-product HFC23, which has an extremely high greenhouse effect.

Although fluorine resin has benefits, its applications should be phased out as much as possible since it is extremely difficult to completely recover and destroy the HFC23 that is a byproduct of fluorine resin production, and HFC refrigerants. There are already refrigerators on the market that use fluorine-free technology and I hope that Daikin becomes a leading-edge company by applying the same technology to air-conditioners.