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The German chemicals giant Hoechst, the world’s third biggest producer
of the CFCs that destroy stratospheric ozone, announced last week that it
will stop making CFCs before 1995 – well before the European Commission’s
deadline of 1997.

Hoechst also said it will not produce HCFCs, which are less damaging
than CFCs, but still destroy ozone. Other major producers insist that HCFCs
are essential replacements for CFCs.

The company plans to produce another CFC replacement, HFC 134a. This
destroys no ozone, but is a powerful greenhouse gas. Hoechst promised last
week to recycle all the HFC 134a it produces. The environmental group Greenpeace
called this a ‘naive’ hope, but praised Hoechst for being ‘miles ahead of
all the other producers’ in renouncing HCFCs.