Honeywell International, Inc. (Charlotte, N.C.) announced the expansion of its facility in Baton Rouge, La. to double the capacity of its Solstice ze (1234ze), an ultra-low-global-warming-potential (GWP) solution. Solstice ze is used in foam insulation, as a propellant in personal and household care products, and in refrigeration and air conditioning applications.
Honeywell will invest significant capital in the facility for the growth of Solstice ze, which is part of the company’s Solstice line of products based on hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) technology that helps customers lower their carbon footprint without sacrificing end-product performance.
The demand for low-GWP solutions continues to grow, and this new capacity will help meet the needs. Multiple global regulations stemming from the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol require the phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), driving the demand for sustainable solutions. Honeywell has already invested over one billion dollars in research, development and new capacity for its Solstice technology, having anticipated the need for lower-GWP solutions to combat climate change more than a decade ago.
“Honeywell is at the forefront for the development and introduction of next-generation technology, with the commercialization of Solstice more than a decade ago, and we continue to invest today to ensure there is ample supply to meet our customer needs for the market conversion to low-GWP solutions,” said Laura Reinhard, vice president and general manager, Honeywell Foam and Industrial Products. “The expansion of our Baton Rouge facility—and doubling the capacity of Solstice ze– will allow us to bring additional supply to market and continue to deliver low-GWP products that reduce carbon footprint and meet regulatory needs.”