In our daily lives, an often-overlooked activity may be impacting our health more than we realize. When we burn gas in our homes, we’re not just preparing meals; we’re cooking up a cocktail of pollutants. These pollutants pose health risks, particularly for vulnerable individuals and those with pre-existing conditions like asthma, according to environmental health expert Frank Kelly, a professor at Imperial College London. Transitioning from gas to electric hobs and ovens can eliminate the health risks associated with gas combustion, Kelly said.

The field study

In 2023, CLASP, in collaboration with TNO and Opinium, carried out the largest indoor air quality study focused on gas cooking ever conducted in Europe to understand the extent of the problem. Researchers provided air quality sensors to 250 households across 7 European countries. Over two weeks, the sensors measured and recorded levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon dioxide, and particulate matter emitted in kitchens.

In kitchens equipped with gas stoves, researchers found that levels of NO₂ often exceed the World Health Organization’s (WHO) air quality guidelines and outdoor air pollution limits in the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK). The study’s findings demonstrate the necessity to improve air quality in our homes, along with a critical need to inform people about the health risks associated with gas cooking and transition to cleaner cooking alternatives.

The hidden cost of cooking with gas

The repercussions extend beyond health; they’re also impacting our wallets. Each year, indoor air pollution related to gas cooking is estimated to cost the European Union around €3.5 billion and the UK government approximately £1.4 billion. These costs include lost earnings, decreased productivity, increased healthcare expenses, and missed educational opportunities.

A recipe for change

Professor Frank Kelly emphasizes that, given the wealth of information linking gas use to health issues and climate impact, “the use of gas is now outdated.” There is a pressing need for change. The most significant decrease in indoor concentrations of NO₂ can be accomplished by making the switch from gas to electric cooking appliances. Accelerating the transition to electric cooking is identified by experts as the most effective solution, alongside raising awareness about the need for adequate ventilation.

To safeguard public health, action is required. Governments, industry leaders, healthcare providers, researchers, and individuals all have a role to play in reducing indoor air pollution related to gas cooking:

• Government: Policymakers across the EU and UK can help accelerate the transition to electric cooking by strengthening appliance standards and establishing energy labels for hobs that inform consumers about pollution levels.
• Industry: Manufacturers and retailers should privilege the production of electric cooking appliances, make the most efficient products more affordable, and discontinue the production of gas hobs and ovens.
• Civil society and healthcare: Advocates should raise awareness of the health risks associated with the use of gas cooking appliances.
• Research: By conducting further studies and fostering innovation, researchers can contribute valuable insights to guide policy decisions and technological advancements.
• On an individual level, adopting cleaner electric hobs and ovens is recommended to limit exposure to NO₂. Ventilating kitchens during and after cooking is a simple, practical step toward mitigating the health risks associated with the use of gas hobs and ovens.

Our culinary choices carry significant health, economic, and environmental weight. Let’s make informed choices to protect our health and contribute to a cleaner future.

CLASP is working with governments to ensure they consider frameworks and incentives that encourage a transition away from gas cooking to electric alternatives.

For more information, visit https://www.clasp.ngo/cook-cleaner-europe/.

Every day at lunchtime, dozens of hungry customers find their way to Chez Clémance, a small restaurant in Kigali, Rwanda. In the back of the shop, owner Muhimpundu Clémance and chef Nsengiyumva Célestin would traditionally have prepared their most popular dishes — meat, rice, beans, and yams — over charcoal fires.

But while their delicious food keeps patrons happy, this cooking method generates air pollution, damaging the environment and posing a health risk for staff. What’s more, the flames present a fire hazard.

Testing clean cooking solutions

Electric pressure cookers offer many benefits over cooking on charcoal. Durable, safe, and affordable, they lessen exposure to harmful air pollutants, lowering cooking costs while reducing deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels.

To understand how these appliances would perform in a busy commercial kitchen, CLASP and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) selected Chez Clémance to field-test two electric pressure cookers over a period of four months. CLASP’s team set up the cookers, along with monitors designed to measure their efficiency. The researchers are also surveying the business owners to understand whether these appliances are a good fit for their needs.

Measuring efficiency and business viability

While laboratory testing gives a glimpse of appliance performance in a controlled environment, it provides only a limited representation of how products operate under the rigors of real use. Field-testing like that underway at Chez Clémance is critical to measure the appliance’s efficiency over a set time. It can quantify time savings and additional income generated or saved, as well as calculate avoided CO2.

These measurements are particularly important in newly developing appliance markets where there may not be a history of appliance usage or community exposure to how appliances can impact the livelihoods of first-time users.

About the project

This project is part of the Productive Use of Energy Pilot Study in Rwanda, conducted by CLASP with the support of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and the World Bank. The appliances being tested are electric pressure cookers, electric bikes, solar water pumps, and solar powered fridges.

CLASP works enhance the access to affordable, energy-efficient appliances to improve the lives of people and reduce the impact on our climate.

 

Brussels, Belgium – Cooking on gas regularly fills kitchens with air pollution above recommended levels, the largest-ever home monitoring study in Europe has found.

The World Health Organization (WHO) daily limit value for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) exposure was broken in most (57.3%) of the homes using gas hobs and/or gas ovens that were tested under normal living conditions by leading scientific researchers.

NO₂ levels were found to be almost twice as high in kitchens, living rooms, and bedrooms in homes cooking on gas compared to those using electric appliances, on average. Breaches in 15.9% of homes using electric appliances were caused mainly by outside air pollution blowing in, the researchers say.

The research, commissioned by nonprofit energy efficiency group CLASP, was conducted by the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO). Sensors were placed in 247 homes [1] in seven countries with large populations cooking on gas and childhood asthma cases linked to cooking on gas.

Breaching limit values increases health risks. NO₂ can cause inflammation of human airways, coughing and wheezing, reduced lung function, and increased asthma attacks, especially in children. Children in homes with a gas cooking appliance have a 20% increased risk of suffering a lower respiratory illness, the WHO estimates.

Pollution spikes in homes cooking on gas could last several hours and were more intense the longer the cooking time, the researchers found. Added together, the WHO daily limit was breached for 3.25 days over the 13-day testing period, on average. Where kitchens had fans to extract fumes outdoors, they did not clear much pollution. This is because of improper use, the researchers think.

Extrapolating to a year, the data shows that a quarter of homes (25%) cooking on gas breached EU and UK hourly NO₂ limits for outside air quality. Authorities across Europe have been forced to respond to breaches of these limits. Yet EU regulators have not set limits for indoor air pollution.

Little has been done to prevent NO₂ pollution from gas cooking appliances in Europe, CLASP wrote in its report summarizing the research. Various regulations could limit air pollution from appliances, but fail to, it said. The problem could be corrected at EU level next year when new design and labelling rules are expected to be adopted.

At a stakeholder meeting with EU officials, initially set for 30 November 2023 and postponed until March 2024, CLASP will call for a new EU energy label comparing gas and electric hob efficiency and highlighting pollution levels.

Nearly a third (32.5%) of homes in the EU cook on gas. But few are aware of the risks due to the invisible nature of the pollution, according to a recent opinion poll commissioned by CLASP and conducted by Opinium. If made aware, up to three quarters of respondents (74%) say they would consider getting rid of their gas appliances.

Nicole Kearney, CLASP Europe Director, said: “Our research reveals the severity of air pollution caused by gas cooking appliances in homes across Europe. Cooking up a change starts with awareness. Empowering people with knowledge on the health risks of these products is essential, and they need resources to upgrade to cleaner and healthier hobs and ovens. In turn, governments must protect public health, tackling air pollution at the source and supporting the transition to cleaner cooking.”

TNO senior scientist, Piet Jacobs, said: “Based on our field study data we estimate that in about 25% of the European kitchens cooking on gas the EU NO₂ limit value for 1-hour exposure is exceeded, where outside levels were below these values. Changing to electric cooking, preferably combined with use of well-designed ventilation hoods to reduce exposure to high levels of particulate matter from cooking, can bring these values down to below recommended levels.”

Professor Frank Kelly of Imperial College London said: “Gas hobs and ovens are a major source of indoor air pollution, including NO₂, which can both exacerbate existing health conditions and potentially lead to new respiratory illnesses. For children with asthma, the presence of gas cooking appliances can intensify their symptoms. Removing these appliances from our homes will improve indoor air quality and mitigate potential risks to public health.”

The scientists also measured for fine particulate matter. In kitchens, this is caused by outdoor pollution blowing in and food cooking, rather than the appliance fuel source. The scientists found no significant difference in emissions between homes cooking on gas and electric.

Ends

CLASP Report – Clearing the Air: Gas Cooking and Pollution in European Homes

TNO Report – Health Effects in Europe from Cooking on Gas – Phase II Field Study

Press releases are available in the following languages:

Dutch, English (UK), English (US), French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Romanian, Slovak, Spanish.

Contacts

• CLASP Europe director Nicole Kearney (EN) +44 75 4486 5924
• CLASP Europe senior communications associate Païline Caroni (EN, FR) +32 473 127 674.
• ICL professor Frank Kelly (EN) +44 (0)20 7594 8098
• CLASP communications consultant Jack Hunter (EN) +33 751 051 805
• TNO press officer Maarten Lörtzer (EN, NL) +31 620420732.

About CLASP:

CLASP is an international nonprofit leading the research and promotion of appliance efficiency and energy access to improve the lives of people and the planet. CLASP works to combat climate change and drive the transition to a more energy-efficient and just future where no one is left behind. Headquartered in Washington DC, and based in Beijing, Brussels, Dehli, Jakarta and Nairobi, CLASP works with governments, appliance manufacturers and partners to advance positive change on a global scale.

 

Notes

[1] Market research firm Opinium selected 40 homes each in France, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, and the UK, where residents cook at least 3 days a week, are non-smokers, and are not near busy main roads or industrial plants. More than 40% of homes include children. One in 5 cook purely on electric, while 4 in 5 cook purely on gas, either ovens, hobs or both. In all homes, sensors were placed in the kitchen, living room and a bedroom to measure NO₂, fine particulate matter, and carbon monoxide. Outdoor sensors detected NO₂. Participants were told to cook and behave normally. Each was paid €100. Only data from 247 homes that successfully followed instructions over a 13-day period in 2023 were included. The previous largest EU study of exposure to NO₂ based on continuous sensor data took readings from 16 homes.

In collaboration with the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) and Opinium Research, CLASP conducted a study across seven European countries in 2023 to assess the impact of gas cooking on indoor air quality. The research involved monitoring in-home air quality in gas- and electric-cooking households, collecting household and cooking behaviour data, and analysing indoor pollutant concentration levels.

The report tackles several critical questions:

• What are the levels of indoor air pollution in households with gas cooking appliances and how do they compare to households that cook with electric appliances?
• How do these pollution levels compare to established mandatory outdoor air quality standards as well as pollution levels recommended by the WHO?
• Is ventilation enough to mitigate the health risks linked with gas cooking, or is a transition to cleaner cooking technologies necessary?

The report’s key findings provide a compelling call to action:

• Gas cooking often results in indoor air pollution that exceeds WHO air quality limits, putting citizens at risk of severe health issues.
• Many households with gas cooking appliances exceed WHO air quality guidelines for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).
• Electric-cooking households, in contrast, enjoy significantly better indoor air quality, free from NO₂ pollution caused by kitchen appliances.
• Ventilation alone is insufficient to mitigate the pollution, necessitating a transition to cleaner electric cooking.

To safeguard public health, it’s essential to educate people about the health risks associated with gas appliances and provide them with resources to transition to cleaner and healthier cooking technologies. CLASP calls for collaborative efforts from governments, industry, civil society, healthcare providers, and individuals to improve indoor air quality across Europe.

Additional Resources

TNO Report: Health Effects in Europe from Cooking on Gas – Phase II Field Study

Executive Summary Translations

Dutch, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Romanian, Slovak, Spanish

Press Releases

Dutch, English, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Romanian, Slovak, Spanish.

Report Figures Available for Download

Figure 1. Gas cooking appliances directly emit harmful pollutants, whereas PM_2.5 is emitted by the process of cooking food

Figure 2. Criteria for household monitoring selection

Figure 5. Comparison of average NO₂ concentrations in gas- and electric-cooking homes

Figure 6. Average NO₂ concentrations per country and per cooking method in different rooms

Figure 9. Average exceedance of WHO and EU/UK NO₂ limit values in gas- and electric-cooking homes

Figure 10. Average number of exceedance days of the WHO daily guideline value during the 13-day measurement period

Figure 11. Highest hourly CO concentrations found in the kitchen, per country and per cooking method

Figure 12. Average PM_2.5 concentrations in the kitchen, per country and per cooking technology

Figure 14. Overview of ventilation types recorded in the study

Figure 15. Comparison of average indoor-attributed NO₂ concentration throughout the home, by cooker type

Figure 16. Average PM_2.5 concentration in kitchen for all homes cooking on gas and electric hobs

Figure 17. Reasons for using ventilation in the kitchen: results from a 2023 CLASP consumer survey

Figure 18. Average NO₂ concentrations in the Netherlands in the kitchen, living room, bedroom, and outdoors

Figure 19. Map of gas- and electric-cooking households in the Netherlands showing NO₂ levels

Figure 21. Average NO₂ concentrations in Italy in the kitchen, living room, bedroom, and outdoors

Figure 22. Map of gas- and electric-cooking households in Italy, based on severity of NO₂ levels

Figure 24. Average NO₂ concentrations in Spain in the kitchen, living room, bedroom, and outdoors

Figure 25. Map of gas- and electric-cooking households in Spain, based on NO₂ levels

Figure 27. Average NO₂ concentrations in France in the kitchen, living room, bedroom, and outdoors

Figure 28. Map of gas- and electric-cooking households in France, based on severity of NO₂ levels

Figure 30. Average NO₂ concentrations in Slovakia in the kitchen, living room, bedroom, and outdoors

Figure 31. Map of gas- and electric-cooking households in Slovakia, based on severity of NO₂ levels

Figure 33. Average NO₂ concentrations in Romania in the kitchen, living room, bedroom, and outdoors

Figure 34. Average corrected NO₂ concentrations in Romania, taking into account higher levels of outdoor air pollution

Figure 35. Map of gas- and electric-cooking households in Romania, based on severity of NO₂ levels

Figure 37. Average NO₂ concentrations in the United Kingdom in the kitchen, living room, bedroom, and outdoors

Figure 38. Map of gas- and electric-cooking households in the United Kingdom, based on severity of NO₂ levels

Guidance Materials for Participating Households

Field Testing Equipment Overview

Field Testing Equipment Installation Guide

Household Recruitment Questionnaire

Instructional Videos for Participating Households: Dutch, English, Italian, French, Romanian, Slovak, Spanish

 

Visit our Cook Cleaner Europe page to view additional resources on gas and electric cooking.

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – This week at the Minamata Convention on Mercury Fifth Conference of Parties (COP5), delegates from 147 countries agreed to phase out florescent lighting globally and completely by 2027.

Fluorescent lamps contain mercury, a potent neurotoxin.

The decision will accelerate global adoption of LEDs by effectively putting an end to the fluorescent lighting industry, with the limited exception of special uses like some transport applications. LEDs are on average 40% more energy efficient than fluorescents.

COP5 decisions primarily addressed linear fluorescent lamps (LFLs), the largest contributor to lighting-based mercury pollution in the world, ubiquitously found in offices, stores, and other commercial settings and institutions. LFLs are also a major source of energy-related CO2 emissions. The decisions close the loop on continued efforts to stop the manufacture, export and import of mercury in lighting worldwide.

Global markets are going all LED.

The benefits of a full transition to LEDs by 2027 are massive. The appliance efficiency expert group CLASP estimates the move will have the following benefits (cumulatively from the phase out dates to 2050):

• Avoid 2.7 gigatonnes of CO2 emissions
• Eliminate 158 tonnes of mercury pollution, both from the light bulbs themselves and from avoided mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants
• Save US$1.13 trillion on electricity bills

“The Africa region, in deep collaboration with colleagues around the world, are proud to have made momentous progress to Make Mercury History,” said David Kapindula, Minamata COP3 President and Africa Region expert. “The decision to phase out mercury-based fluorescent lighting will have unprecedented benefits in combatting the triple planetary crisis of climate change, air pollution, and biodiversity loss. Such actions would not have been possible without the spirit of cooperation demonstrated by Parties at this Minamata COP5.”

This week’s move complements decisions at Minamata COP4 in March 2022 to phase out compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), lamps commonly found in homes, by 2025. Proposals to phase out fluorescents at COP4 and COP5 were introduced by delegates from Africa.

“I was pleased to see a high spirit of collaboration amongst the Parties as related to matters concerning mercury lighting,” said Itsuki Kuroda, co-chair for COP5 proceedings and the Delegate from Japan. “Parties were able to align on phase out dates for all fluorescent categories, representing a positive example of successful diplomacy on the world stage.”

Fluorescent lighting contains mercury, a toxic chemical that threatens the health of people and the planet. Most fluorescents are improperly disposed of into general waste streams; broken bulbs pollute land and water, and increase health risks in vulnerable populations like children, pregnant people, and waste workers.

“The mercury-free lighting community came together to achieve a significant feat in the fight against mercury added products. Putting a stop to all lighting-related mercury pollution will have wide reaching benefits for our communities, ecosystems, and for the generations to come. We congratulate the governments and are pleased to join them in saying ‘Farewell to Fluorescents,’” said Elena Lymberidi-Settimo, International Co-coordinator of the Zero Mercury Working Group.

LED lamps pay for themselves quickly in energy savings. Recent global analysis indicates that payback periods for LED alternatives to LFLs are improving, from an average of 6.3 months in 2022 to 2.4 months in 2023.

LED sales and manufacturing rates are increasing year on year while fluorescent manufacture and sales are plummeting. Apart from the specialized blue-chip components, LEDs can be manufactured and assembled anywhere, unlike fluorescents, which are only produced by a few companies in a handful of countries. Advocates claim that the transition to all LED will drive local economic growth, especially in low- and middle- income countries, due to the affordability and availability of the lamps and increased clean energy jobs.

###

For Media and Technical Inquires Please Contact:

Alexia Ross

Clean Lighting Campaign Communications Lead

CLASP

aross[at]clasp.ngo

WhatsApp +1 399 222 4311

 

Despite decades of research establishing links between gas cooking emissions and health impacts, misconceptions about both gas and electric kitchen appliances remain widespread. Many households across Europe are still unaware of the risks associated with gas hobs and ovens. CLASP’s report “European Consumer Perspectives of Gas and Electric Cooking” draws evidence from national surveys conducted across France, Romania, Spain, and the United Kingdom, shedding light on a critical public health concern.

Key findings from the report include:

• A willingness to switch to electric for health reasons: The majority of respondents (ranging from 58% to 74% in different countries) would consider abandoning their gas cookers if they were aware of health issues associated with them. This highlights a significant opportunity to reduce indoor air pollution and protect public health through further awareness-raising activities.
• Safety perceptions: Consumers generally perceive electric cooking as safer than gas despite lacking full awareness of the health risks associated with gas appliances.
• Barriers to switching: Consumers view cost as a significant obstacle to transitioning from gas to electric cooking. Renters face additional challenges, with many reporting an inability to change to electric appliances.
• Public support for government intervention: An overwhelming majority of respondents (ranging from 77% to 88% in different countries) strongly supports government initiatives aimed at promoting electric cooking.
• Energy efficiency concerns: Consumers care about the energy efficiency of their cooking appliances but lack the tools to effectively compare gas and electric options. They strongly support the idea of an energy-efficiency label for hobs and ovens.

Further research and action are needed to overcome the barriers to electrifying cooking in Europe. Facilitating the transition to electric cooking, raising awareness of health risks, and implementing energy-efficiency labels can pave the way for healthier and more sustainable households.

Access the full report

Additional resources on gas and electric cooking in Europe

For media inquiries and more information, please contact

Païline Caroni
Senior Communications Associate (Europe) – CLASP
pcaroni@clasp.ngo

About CLASP:

CLASP is an international nonprofit leading the research and promotion of appliance efficiency and energy access to improve the lives of people and the planet. CLASP works with governments, industry, communities, and others to propel policies and markets toward the highest-quality, lowest resource-intensive products possible.

While decades of scientific research have established a correlation between the emissions from gas cooking appliances and detrimental health impacts, the findings have not been widely circulated amongst the European public. As a result, misconceptions and misinformation about the safety, performance, and efficiency of electric alternatives remain widespread.

This report’s findings are drawn from surveys conducted among nationally representative samples of 3,000 adults in France, Romania, Spain, and 2,000 adults in the United Kingdom (UK). It offers European policymakers valuable insights into consumer perspectives on both gas and electric cooking appliances.

 

CLASP’s research questions address the following:

• Consumer use of and reasons for gas versus electric cooking appliances.
• Awareness of the health risks associated with gas cooking, and practices – such as ventilation – that can reduce risks.
• The importance of energy efficiency in major appliance purchase decisions and the value of a comparative energy label for gas and electric cookers.
• The level of support for government schemes to accelerate the transition to electric cooking.

Key findings of the report include:

• Variations in preference and usage of gas and electric cooking appliances are evident across countries, but also among distinct demographic segments.
• Cost emerges as a significant barrier for consumers, hindering the transition from gas to electric appliances. Renters wanting to switch to electric cooking appliances may face obstacles, despite their preference for such appliances.
• Consumers perceive electric cooking as safer than gas cooking, yet many remain unaware of, or indifferent to, the health risks associated with gas cooking appliances.
• Most respondents (58–74%) said they would consider getting rid of their gas cooker if they knew it was linked with health issues.
• Less than 20% of respondents across all countries indicated using ventilation to mitigate indoor air pollution when cooking.
• There is substantial public support for government initiatives aimed at promoting electric cooking in Europe.
• Consumers express a strong interest in the energy efficiency of their cooking appliances; however, they lack the means to effectively compare different types of hobs. Consumers strongly support the implementation of an energy efficiency label for both hobs and ovens.

While this report provides valuable insights, further research is needed to understand the barriers and opportunities for electrifying cooking across Europe.

Translations of the report’s executive summary are available:

• French: Résumé – Les perspectives des consommateurs européens sur la cuisson au gaz et à l’électricité : Preuves tirées de quatre enquêtes nationales
• Italian: Riepilogo – I punti di vista dei consumatori europei sulla cottura a gas ed elettrica – i risultati di quattro indagini nazionali
• Romanian: Rezumat – Perspective ale consumatorilor europeni în privința gătitului cu gaz și electric: Dovezi din patru sondaje naționale
• Spanish: Resumen – Perspectivas de los consumidores europeos sobre las cocinas eléctricas y de gas: Cuatro encuestas nacionales

Individual survey reports:

• France
• Romania
• Spain
• UK

Visit our Cook Cleaner Europe page to view additional resources on gas and electric cooking.

The inefficient¹ ACs flooding the region are manufactured by multinational companies, which produce high-efficiency models for their domestic markets. This practice of ‘appliance dumping’ takes advantage of loopholes in national regulations, posing a severe threat to the planet, exacerbating climate change, straining energy grids, and increasing energy costs for consumers.

This report by CLASP, with support from the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development (IGSD), documents that five of the six Southeast Asian markets studied – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam – are saturated with low-efficiency room air conditioners (ACs), while only Singapore has efficient ACs with less-damaging refrigerants.

The soaring temperatures and record heatwaves that plague Southeast Asia have led to a surge in demand for residential air conditioning. However, the report reveals that if all six countries put an end to the dumping of inefficient ACs, it could result in a reduction of over 1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions over 25 years. Additionally, the region would save a cumulative USD 148 billion, exceeding the combined energy investment of the six analyzed countries over the last quarter century (USD 134 billion).

Key findings of the report include:

• The dominant multinational brands responsible for this dumping are headquartered in China, Japan, South Korea, and the United States. Since the majority of electricity in Southeast Asia is generated by fossil fuels, energy-intensive RACs contribute towards substantial indirect carbon emissions.
• In 2021, a notable 74% of total sales (6.2 million units) in the six markets were classified as low efficiency. However, sales of low-efficiency RACs vary by country. Indonesia and the Philippines are the most exposed to dated technology, with 97% and 78% of RACs, respectively, falling into this category, while in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand the number is around 60%. Singapore had the most efficient RAC market, with just 21% of total sales being low-efficiency models.
• Most RACs imported to Southeast Asia do not meet the applicable minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) of the export countries. This means these inefficient units are banned from being sold in the brands’ domestic markets. Approximately 93% of RACs imported into Southeast Asia from China do not meet the efficiency requirements of China MEPS. 59% of RAC exports from South Korea to Southeast Asia and 21% of RAC exports from Japan to Southeast Asia are below the brands’ home-country requirements.
• The six Southeast Asian RAC markets use HFC refrigerants that have high GWPs. R-410A, an obsolete refrigerant scheduled for phasedown under the Montreal Protocol, has a GWP of 2,088, meaning it is over 2,000 times the potency of carbon dioxide. RACs containing R-410A accounted for 35% of Southeast Asia sales in 2021, measuring highest in Singapore (90%) and Thailand (66%).

Jakarta, 20 September 2023 – A new report warns that multinational companies are exporting millions of inefficient air conditioners to Southeast Asia, taking advantage of loopholes in national laws and regulations. Because these units contain high global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants, this appliance dumping contributes to climate change, strains national energy grids, and burdens consumers with higher energy bills.

This report by CLASP, with support from the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development (IGSD), documents that five of the six Southeast Asian markets studied – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam – are saturated with low-efficiency room air conditioners (ACs), while only Singapore has efficient ACs with less-damaging refrigerants. The inefficient ACs are produced by multinational companies that make high-efficiency models for sale in their home country markets.

With record heatwaves sweltering Southeast Asia and elsewhere each year, demand for residential air conditioning is projected to rise rapidly to support the lives and livelihoods of billions. The report shows that if all six countries prevented inefficient AC dumping, it would reduce cumulative emissions over 25 years by more than 1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide. Over the same 25 years, the region would also save USD 148 billion cumulatively for consumers, exceeding the combined energy investment of the six analyzed countries over the last quarter century (USD 134 billion).

The report finds:

• The dominant multinational brands responsible for this dumping are headquartered in China, Japan, South Korea, and the United States. Since the majority of electricity in Southeast Asia is generated by fossil fuels, energy-intensive RACs contribute towards substantial indirect carbon emissions.
• In 2021, a notable 74% of total sales (6.2 million units) in the six markets were classified as low efficiency. However, sales of low-efficiency RACs vary by country. Indonesia and the Philippines are the most exposed to dated technology, with 97% and 78% of RACs, respectively, falling into this category, while in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand the number is around 60%. Singapore had the most efficient RAC market, with just 21% of total sales being low-efficiency models.
• Most RACs imported to Southeast Asia do not meet the applicable minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) of the export countries. This means these inefficient units cannot be sold in those domestic markets. Approximately 93% of RACs imported into Southeast Asia from China do not meet the efficiency requirements of China MEPS. 59% of RAC exports from South Korea to Southeast Asia and 21% of RAC exports from Japan to Southeast Asia are below the brands’ home-country requirements.
• The six Southeast Asian RAC markets use HFC refrigerants that have high GWPs. R-410A, an obsolete refrigerant scheduled for phasedown under the Montreal Protocol, has a GWP of 2,088, meaning it is over 2,000 times the potency of carbon dioxide. RACs containing R-410A accounted for 35% of Southeast Asia sales in 2021, measuring highest in Singapore (90%) and Thailand (66%).

Commenting on the research, Christine Egan, CEO of CLASP, said, “In the midst of a global climate emergency where high temperature records are broken annually, it is disappointing that the production and sale of affordable efficient ACs does not extend across all markets in Southeast Asia. This research shows the added financial savings and emission reductions that can come from stopping the influx of obsolete, energy-guzzling appliances that provide life-saving cooling to millions of people.”

Tad Ferris, Senior Counsel at IGSD, cautioned, “This report warns of trade practices harmful to every living creature and ecosystem. The unchecked dumping of inefficient ACs using obsolete refrigerants is exacting an exorbitant toll in vulnerable Southeast Asian communities facing record-setting heat waves during the climate emergency. It is imperative to reverse this trajectory. This report underscores a suite of solutions that include collaborative commitments between multinational corporations and exporting and importing countries, to eliminate the high lifecycle cost of inefficient ACs with obsolete refrigerants.”

Drawing from the research, the report provides actionable recommendations to mitigate  dumping. It emphasizes the urgency of implementing robust energy performance standards, fostering favorable trade practices, and enforcing anti-environmental dumping policies. These steps are pivotal to ensure sustainable cooling access while reducing negative impacts on the environment and energy systems.

Press Contact Details (EN)

Karishma Joseph
Senior Communications Associate (Asia) – CLASP
Kjoseph@clasp.ngo
Whatsapp: +91 9538 372435

About CLASP

CLASP is an international nonprofit leading the research and promotion of appliance efficiency and energy access to improve the lives of people and the planet. CLASP works with governments, industry, communities, and others to propel policies and markets toward the highest-quality, lowest resource-intensive products possible.

About IGSD

The Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development (IGSD) works to ensure fast cuts to the non-carbon dioxide climate pollutants and other fast climate mitigation strategies to slow near-term warming and self-amplifying climate feedbacks and limit global temperature to 1.5 °C – or at least keep this temperature guardrail in sight. IGSD’s approach to fast mitigation includes science, technology, law and policy, and climate finance. IGSD works at the global, regional, national, and subnational levels.

Increasing access to electricity, levels of disposable income, and growing urbanization are key contributors to the burgeoning number of appliances across most modern societies. For instance, the Kenya home appliances market attained a value of USD 184.48 million in 2018 and is projected to reach USD 363.92 million by 2027, growing at a compounding annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8%.²

This significant growth speaks to the urgent need to plan for proper management of potential e-waste resulting from the scale up of the appliance market. Proper management is crucial to avoiding any health or environmental consequences of e-waste and to taking proactive steps towards protecting individuals and their communities.

In Africa, less than 1%³ of e-waste is documented as collected and recycled properly. Even though many studies have been conducted on e-waste management, very few are in sub–Saharan Africa where most countries face significant e-waste management issues.

Loughborough University, through the Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) Programme worked with CLASP to conduct a research study on repair and end-of-life practices related to electric cooking appliances in Kenya and Rwanda. As the market for electrical cooking (e-cooking) products is only just taking off in many African countries, the study used televisions as a proxy for e-cooking, given their relatively mature market. The study provides insights into the ecosystem of the appliance market in both countries, how it operates, what happens to products at each stage of their end-of-life pathway, and the associated impacts.

Taking Action: Consumer Behavior and Awareness on End-of-Life Appliance Management 

Unless externally incentivized, Consumers control the end-of-life pathway for their used electronics. This could be a formal drop-off point, informal waste collection, or storage within the home. Upon appliance failure, many consumers in both countries opt to take the appliance for repair, and this is predominantly conducted by informal local repair shops.

Overall, repair choices are most influenced by cost effectiveness. Consumers in Kenya who repair their appliances are willing to pay a service/repair fee of up to only 20% of the original appliance cost.

 

CLASP’s survey revealed that residents are generally more likely to store their non-functioning appliances in their households rather than to dispose or recycle properly, with 84% of respondents in Rwanda and 95% in Kenya reporting a lack of awareness on any designated e-waste disposal options in their communities. However, some consumers could better cite the dangers of improper e-waste disposal, indicating the benefits of awareness raising. Lilian Muthoni of the Usweni region in Kitui county in Kenya noted, “Kuna vitu hufai kuweka kwa nyumba, kama battery italipuka.” (There are things you should not store in your house, something like a battery can explode.)

 

A strong majority of the survey respondents that are using unsustainable practices expressed a willingness to switch to more sustainable behavior. In summary, awareness of environmental impact of poor e-waste disposal, financial incentives, and ease of disposal are the key factors that would promote more sustainable household behavior.

From Policy to Practice: Implementing E-Waste Regulations

Kenya has adopted several regulations that govern the quality and energy efficiency of appliances such as TVs, refrigerators, and off-grid solar (OGS) products. The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) in 2013 initiated a mandatory standards and labelling (S&L) scheme covering lighting products, refrigerators, air-conditioners and motors, and the IEC quality standards for solar products. Similarly, the Rwanda Standards Bureau (RSB) has developed and published several standards for various electrical and electronic products, as well as a dedicated standard on e-waste management. These standards prescribe handling, collection, transportation, and storage of various categories of e-waste. Both countries are party to several regional and multilateral environmental agreements, including the Basel and Bamako Conventions.

Unfortunately, there is currently no information available quantifying the effectiveness of these schemes in keeping low quality appliances off the market. This gap in information may be due to the lack of clear practical guidance on how roles and responsibilities are distributed throughout the e-waste management ecosystem.⁴ This was evident in the feedback among surveyed e-waste stakeholders, where many had no awareness of the regulations that impacted them; those that did could not describe their effects.

Governments in sub-Saharan African countries are working to develop policies to mitigate further environmental harm, but often lack funding, expertise, and personnel to implement regulations. To achieve a green economy, both Kenya and Rwanda will need to bring together diverse stakeholders, allocate sufficient resources, and invest in awareness raising on proper e-waste management practices and infrastructure.

Keeping Stakeholders in Sync

The e-waste landscape in both Rwanda and Kenya reveals a complex ecosystem with an array of stakeholders, each with varying levels of influence and interests. Collaborative efforts are therefore pivotal in harnessing the potential of these stakeholders to drive sustainable e-waste management and foster a circular economy.

A significant proportion of these stakeholders operate within the informal sector, highlighting the importance of their involvement in decision-making processes and the development of initiatives. For instance, households commonly opt to take their malfunctioning appliances to informal repair shops. However, most times, these repair shops often face challenges related to limited technical expertise for advanced fault resolution and unavailability of spare parts, as Claude, an appliance repairer in Muhanga District in Rwanda said. Claude points out, “Sometimes, when a customer brings a phone, radio, or television to be repaired, we cannot help them because the spare parts are not available here. It would be better if spare parts could be made available in Muhanga or even Kigali.” This sentiment is not unique to Claude.

To support the e-waste landscape, for both formal and informal players, it will be useful to incorporate their perspectives in decision-making around key initiatives designed to develop the market (e.g., capacity-building programs, establishing accessible spare part markets etc.). Moreover, the research findings underline the potential for mutually beneficial relationships to flourish, particularly between formal and informal actors. There is great opportunity for governments to play a vital role in facilitating this collaborative relationship, such as exploring innovative measures and instruments to make the formal sector more accessible to informal stakeholders.

Grounding in Numbers: The Urgent Need for Data 

The need for effective e-waste management policies and regulations is apparent, yet it hinges on a fundamental understanding of materials entering and leaving the ecosystem; this is grounded in data. Unfortunately, there is a lack of data on material flows in both Kenya and Rwanda, and the relatively small stakeholder sample used in the study did not offer precise estimates of quantities handled.

Furthermore, the majority of stakeholders, especially those in the informal sector, do not keep track of the amount of materials they handle.  A notable example comes from Maina Gitau, a small-scale refurbisher in Nairobi, who found it difficult to pinpoint the number of appliances and materials he sells due to the constant turnover of his inventory. While he likely keeps records of revenue, tracking the precise quantity of materials passing through his shop daily remains a challenge.

 

To address these data gaps and ensure an accurate assessment of e-waste flows, both countries must establish systemic data collection frameworks. These frameworks should involve relevant government agencies, including those responsible for trade and industry, to track not only material flows, but also all stakeholders within the appliance value chains.

Crucially, such data collection initiatives will help monitor the impacts of transitioning to a circular economy, which, according to the International Labor Organization, could generate over six million jobs. Furthermore, these frameworks will simplify access to information on e-waste collection and processing facilities for the public, enabling a more informed and responsible action for proper e-waste management. Lastly, government agencies can leverage this data to support collaborations, funding efforts, and infrastructure development aimed at sustainable e-waste management.

Summing it Up

Understanding end-of-life practices for appliances is pivotal in establishing sustainable frameworks for responsible disposal and for promoting the broader mission of circularity. The recommendations derived from our studies in Rwanda and Kenya hold promise far beyond these borders. By implementing robust awareness campaigns, enforcing e-waste regulations, and establishing systemic data collection systems, countries in sub-Saharan Africa can take substantial steps toward responsible e-waste management. May this study serve as a catalyst for others to continue conducting research on e-waste landscapes across sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.

The full publications for this study on Rwanda and Kenya can be accessed on the MECS website.

Explore related work and initiatives in circular economy and clean cooking that CLASP has completed, such as the Bending Toward Circular report and Use and Impacts of Electric Pressure Cookers report. Additionally, be on the lookout for our forthcoming projects, including a reparability index study for solar appliances, which will provide valuable insights into the evolving landscape of sustainable practices and offer opportunities for collaboration in our shared mission towards a more sustainable future.