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Representing a large majority of refrigerated storage facilities throughout the European Union, the European Cold Storage and Logistics Association (ECSLA) has partnered up with ammonia21.com to spur the use of cutting-edge ammonia systems in the region.

ECSLA, the voice of the European cold storage industry, is an advocate for the use of natural refrigerants and especially ammonia, the refrigerant acknowledged as the most efficient of all in large industrial applications. As such, it already provides its members with information about the possibilities of using natural refrigerants in cold storage and logistics, as part of its mission towards promoting competitiveness of the industry in relation to protecting the environment.

To demonstrate its clear commitment to ammonia (R717), ECSLA will join forces with ammonia21.com as the world’s first online B2B platform to exchange knowledge about R717. Over the coming months, ECSLA will hence support the portal in providing latest news from the European cold storage and logistics industry, and spread the word about the unexploited potential of ammonia, as well as remaining barriers for its widespread use.

“ECSLA is happy to join forces with ammonia21.com in order to encourage the use of natural refrigerants across the EU and beyond”, says Secretary General of ECSLA Christianna Papazahariou. “ECSLA has committed to promote the benefits of natural refrigerants because they are environmentaly sustainable and future-proof for the European industrial refrigeration sector. For ECSLA, ammonia in particular offers a very high level of reliability in terms of effectiveness, safety and energy efficiency. Shecco (having launched ammonia21.com) shares this view too and this makes our partnership not only topical but also necessary”.

Promoting the use of natural refrigerants

ECSLA acknowledges that the use of natural refrigerants is worthwhile both from a climate and an economic perspective. Their zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and zero (for ammonia) or negligible Global Warming Potential (GWP) puts natural working fluids beyond comparison from a climate standpoint, while the abundant availability of them at low cost as well as their higher efficiency contribute towards savings on operating costs. Concretely, ECSLA has been promoting the use of natural refrigerants through:

• ECSLA/eurammon joint membership: In the interest of sustainable development in refrigeration, ECSLA has joined forces with eurammon, the European initiative for natural refrigerants. The aim of this reciprocal membership is to champion environmentally friendly solutions in refrigeration at the European Union level, and strengthen the position of natural refrigerants.
   
• Position paper on the ODS Regulation: In a recent position paper on the recast of Regulation 2037/2000 on substances that deplete the ozone layer (the ODS Regulation), ECSLA urged the EU legislative bodies to promote the uptake of climate friendly alternatives to HCFCs in order to ensure that the potential climate benefits of the HCFC phase-out are realized.

About ECSLA

ECSLA comprises national Cold Storage associations from the EU Member States and beyond, while it also welcomes as members companies and other bodies whose activities are relevant to the Cold Storage industry. It represents a large majority of refrigerated storage facilities throughout the EU (close to 45 million cubic meters).

The association’s mission is to represent the cold logistics companies interests, in order to contribute to the development of a legislative and economic framework addressing the competitiveness of the industry in the fields of food quality and safety, consumer protection and respect for the environment.

Contact Information

If you would like to contact ECSLA for any enquiries, you may send a request to Valerie Hammer directly.