L∞P by Daikin program for key accounts and investors relies on the formula “Recover – Reclaim – Reuse” of refrigerants

The current Eurobarometer Future of Europe survey shows that 45 % of Europeans see climate change as one of the biggest challenges for the future of the EU.¹ Most of them expect a solution from the business sector.

Daikin’s circular economy program “L∞P by Daikin – Recover –Reclaim – Reuse” is a step forward to lower the environmental impact of cooling and heating, especially in retail and other industries. Investors and key accounts such as the non-food-discounter Action or dm-drogerie markt already joined the program and made a sustainable choice.

Vienna, August 2021 – The principles of L∞P by Daikin are simple, but the environmental impact is significant: Through Daikin’s circular economy initiatives for refrigerants the production of 250.000 kg of virgin gas such as the widely used refrigerant R-410A for cooling and heating systems is avoided yearly. “Until today, more than 20.000 L∞P by Daikin VRV heat pumps running with certified reclaimed refrigerants have been sold. Seeing the success, Daikin Europe N. V. decided to extend the approach to all VRV units produced and sold in Europe.² Now, the new circular economy program L∞P by Daikin – Recover – Reclaim – Reuse for key accounts and investors is closing the loop by providing key accounts and investors a reliable supply of reclaimed refrigerants for certified Daikin units at their sites”, says Carl Lievens, Managing Director of Daikin Central Europe. Additionally, certified reclaimed refrigerant R134a is available for chillers that are manufactured for members of the program.

How does “L∞P by Daikin – Recover – Reclaim – Reuse” work?

1. Refrigerants are recovered from existing HVAC-R systems at key accounts stores or investors sites.

2. Refrigerants are up-cycled (or reclaimed) to virgin quality.

3. Reclaimed refrigerants are reused along with virgin refrigerant in new L∞P  by Daikin units which are produced in Daikin’s VRV-factory in Ostend (Belgium).

4. Daikin certifies – endorsed by an external audit – that the quantity of refrigerants recovered from key accounts matches the quantity of refrigerants used in new certified units delivered to them.

5. In this way, key accounts are assured of both the quality and quantity of the reclaimed refrigerant delivered to their site and thereby contribute to a circular economy.

dm-drogerie markt and Action strive for sustainability through L∞P by Daikin

dm-drogerie markt turned to Daikin some years ago to completely rethink the energy management of its network, which has grown to over 2.000 shops today, by using VRV heat pumps. Now Germany's leading drugstore retailer is taking another leap in reducing its environmental impact by going circular for the refrigerant it uses across its shops by becoming the first German retailer that is a certified member in the L∞P by Daikin – Recover – Reclaim – Reuse program. In 2020 dm executed the first pilot case, where a total of 15,4 kg of R-410A refrigerant was recovered from a refurbished store, successfully reclaimed and then reused in a dm-store in Bad Nauheim (Germany). Today nearly 60 kg of refrigerant have already been recovered from the German dm-network.

In partnership with Daikin, the international non-food discounter Action has successfully reused 312,27 kg of allocated refrigerant gas in 15 stores across Europe, in 2020. The two companies set up their collaboration in early 2019 with one common goal: reducing the environmental impact and supporting a circular economy.

After their initial success, Action has included the L∞P by Daikin – Recover – Reclaim –Reuse program as part of the company’s social responsibility strategy and is aiming to continue to grow its collaboration with Daikin in 2021 in order to collect refrigerant gas from approximately 40 stores.

L∞P by Daikin – Recover – Reclaim – Reuse circular economy for refrigerants. Copyrights Daikin

“We are glad that companies like dm-drogerie markt and Action discovered and integrated our program in their processes. We hope to inspire many others to make the same positive choice and to help us to recover the huge quantity of available refrigerant from existing installations”, says Toshitaka Tsubouchi, Vice-president of Daikin Europe.

The L∞P by Daikin program supports key accounts and investors to turn waste into an asset and reuse valuable resources. In 2021, the program has been launched in Daikin Central Europe’s markets Hungary, the Czech Republic and Austria.

Daikin’s long tradition of careful use of resources

Since 1980 Daikin is reusing waste materials like metal, copper and aluminium in its production facilities. Overall Daikin units are in average made of 80 % reusable materials. They have a long life-cycle and spare parts are even available 10 years after the end of production. Combined with service packages the unit’s life-time is extended. VRV L∞P units with reclaimed refrigerant allocation are available since 2019. “Now, we increase our positive impact as HVAC-R industry-leader with the new circular economy program L∞P by Daikin – Recover-Reclaim-Reuse for key accounts and investors. The program shows that we take our responsibility for a healthy environment serious and invest in solutions that support the European Green Deal Circular Economy Action Plan”, says Lievens.

For more information visit: https://www.daikin-ce.com/loop

References:

¹ Eurobarometer Future of Europe survey 

² EU member states, UK, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania, North Macedonia, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland

Pictures and Infographics: Copyrights Daikin Central Europe