CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Actrol, an Australia-based wholesaler of supplier of parts and equipment to the HVACR industry, will use Honeywell's low-GWP refrigerant Solstice L40X (R-455A) for its condensing units, which are found in supermarkets, convenience stores, and restaurants.

Solstice significantly reduces overall CO₂ emissions compared to traditional refrigerants, a Honeywell press release said. Actrol’s integration of Honeywell’s Solstice technology aligns with Australia’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions from high-GWP refrigerants by 85% before 2036. It also supports Honeywell’s realignment of its portfolio around three megatrends, including the energy transition, the company said.

“At Actrol, we believe we have a responsibility to minimize our overall impact on climate change; this includes offering more sustainable alternatives to our customers,” said Sam Ansell, operations leader at Actrol. “We work in close partnership with our suppliers to identify innovative methods of reducing our collective footprint. We partnered with Honeywell due to their extensive experience in the field of refrigeration and low-carbon technologies.”

"Across the globe, our customers are increasingly interested in opportunities to adopt new, innovative technologies that offer sustainable alternatives to refrigerants with high global warming potential and enable them to reduce their carbon footprints, while enhancing energy efficiency,” said Leo Li, general manager of sustainability and decarbonization at Honeywell Advanced Materials, Asia Pacific.

Honeywell has invested more than $1 billion in the research, development, and creation of new capacity for its Solstice technology, which has applications in refrigerants, blowing agents, aerosols, and solvents, and is also being evaluated for expanded use in metered-dose inhalers. Since its introduction in 2011, the use of Solstice technology has helped avoid the potential release of the equivalent of more than 395 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, the company said.