Japan Press Weekly

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2014 February 19 - 25 [ENVIRONMENT]

GHG-emitting solvent used in Japan for dry cleaning runs counter to Europe’s move to ban it

Dry cleaners in Japan use a solvent emitting potent greenhouse gases. The Japanese government provides tax breaks for the use of this compound and is even planning to extend this measure for another two years.

Environmental NGOs, including Kiko Network and WWF-Japan, argue that the government measure runs counter to the needs of the time tackling global warming, and demand that the preferential tax and the use of the chemical be immediately stopped.

The solvent in question is fluorine HFC-365mfc which is subject to COP17 restrictions. Advertisements in Japan, however, tout it as an environmentally-friendly non-petroleum agent. This sales pitch has contributed to the rapid spread of its use in the dry cleaning industry.

In May last year, Japanese Communist Party Ichida Tadayoshi at an Upper House Environment Committee meeting took up the problematic hype regarding the “friendly to the environment” product called Solkane Dry. He urged the government to look carefully into the use of the fluorinated solvent and review the related-tax cut.

Later, another JCP Dietmember, Takahashi Chizuko inquired in writing about the issue, asking if the government is properly conducting fact-finding surveys. She criticized relevant authorities for still encouraging the use of the GHG-emitting compound without assessing its effects in disregard of the ongoing efforts of the international community to have it banned. The JCP Lower House member demanded an end to the special tax measure.

An Environment Ministry taskforce dealing with fluorocarbons said that the JCP proposal is now on the table. However, the Health Ministry’s sanitation division said that the solvent in question does not emit greenhouse effect gases. The industrial organization of dry cleaning also said it has no problem with using the fluorine HFC-365mfc because the Environment Ministry has not said anything about it. The Solkane Dry advertiser said it knew that the effects of the product had been discussed in the Diet but the company cannot judge whether or not it produces greenhouse gas emissions.

Momoi Takako of Kiko Network said to Akahata, “In Europe, the use of fluorinated mixtures tends to be banned. In Japan, on the contrary, uses it in an unrestricted manner. It goes against international efforts to restrict its use.” The NGO leader criticized the government attitude for recommending the use of the fluorine chemical by giving preferential taxation for its use.