Accelerating Clean Cooling & Heating

Contact UsNewsletter
01

Why this matters

Most refrigeration runs on chemicals that warm the planet — or quietly poison it.

HFCs warm the atmosphere up to 14,000× more than CO₂. Their HFO replacements break down into TFA — a forever chemical now detectable in rain, ice, and human blood.

The answer

CO₂, ammonia, hydrocarbons — proven for over a century. They don't warm the planet, and they don't leave a forever chemical behind.

Natural refrigerants avoid both.

02
Primary metric

A year of avoided emissions, made visible.

GHG emissions REFRA avoided over the lifetime of 2024's equipment.

Stage 1 · Scale check

1 metric ton of CO₂e is an 8-meter cube.

A petrol car emits roughly that much in six months.

In real-world terms

What it adds up to.

212k
homes / year
powered for a year on the same footprint
368k
petrol cars off the road
for one year of driving emissions avoided
6.5B
km not driven
distance equivalent never burned in a tank
03
Hidden pollutant

TFA: the forever chemical you haven't heard of.

Trifluoroacetic acid is an ultra-short-chain PFAS that leaks from synthetic refrigerants and accumulates in rainwater. Natural-refrigerant systems leak zero.

Stage 1 · Emission

HFCs and HFOs leak from refrigeration systems.

Synthetic refrigerants escape over the lifetime of every system — installation, service, end-of-life. The leaks are small, but they add up across millions of installations worldwide.

Refrigerant gas leaking from cooling equipment
04

Growth

Cumulative avoided CO₂e emissions over the years.

REFRA has been ATMO Approved since 2023 — 2 consecutive years of independently verified impact.

0
metric tons of CO₂e · GWP 20 years
2024
2025
0
metric tons of CO₂e · GWP 100 years
2024
2025
05
Voices from the field

What operators say after a year on natural refrigerants.

Shane McKenzie
Business Development Director
Absolutely Chilled Ltd
Performance

Yes.

Shane McKenzie
Business Development Director
Absolutely Chilled Ltd
Quality & Reliability

No.

Shane McKenzie
Business Development Director
Absolutely Chilled Ltd
Safety

100% High spec for international retailer with excellent consultant

Shane McKenzie
Business Development Director
Absolutely Chilled Ltd
Service

Yes.

Shane McKenzie
Business Development Director
Absolutely Chilled Ltd
Satisfaction

100% we will work again , quality is excellent

Shane McKenzie
Business Development Director
Absolutely Chilled Ltd
Training

No

Francesco Iannì
Project Controlling
Rütgers GmbH & Co. KG
Performance

Yes, cooling capacity, loudness, etc., have all been in line with expectations.

Francesco Iannì
Project Controlling
Rütgers GmbH & Co. KG
Quality & Reliability

No breakdowns at all; only some minor documentation issues.

Francesco Iannì
Project Controlling
Rütgers GmbH & Co. KG
Safety

Yes, the chillers are safe. The only concern has been some issues with the documentation, which was no so good.

Francesco Iannì
Project Controlling
Rütgers GmbH & Co. KG
Service

Yes, the support team answers quickly to our requests/questions, but not always with the expected information.

Francesco Iannì
Project Controlling
Rütgers GmbH & Co. KG
Satisfaction

The quality of production, sales, and support is very high! Demand for machines using natural refrigerants is increasing in Germany, making Refra the ideal partner for us.

Francesco Iannì
Project Controlling
Rütgers GmbH & Co. KG
Training

This is an issue we need to address more firmly.

Chi Trinh
Commercial Manager – Natural Refrigeration & Service Solutions
Hussmann Australia (A Panasonic Company)
Performance

The product is well constructed and designed. The engineering of the product taking into consideration serviceability is exceptional. It is evident that much consideration has been made into the total life of the equipment.

Chi Trinh
Commercial Manager – Natural Refrigeration & Service Solutions
Hussmann Australia (A Panasonic Company)
Quality & Reliability

N/A as our first installations will occur in the next few months

Chi Trinh
Commercial Manager – Natural Refrigeration & Service Solutions
Hussmann Australia (A Panasonic Company)
Safety

Refra have performed all necessary safety requirements including independent testing and validation. This is a crucial aspect when dealing with R290 flammable refrigerants. Much consideration has been placed into the construction of the unit to ensure safety.

Chi Trinh
Commercial Manager – Natural Refrigeration & Service Solutions
Hussmann Australia (A Panasonic Company)
Service

I am highly satisfied with the level of service and technical support provided by Refra. The company consistently met its delivery and service commitments, demonstrating professionalism and reliability throughout my experience.

Chi Trinh
Commercial Manager – Natural Refrigeration & Service Solutions
Hussmann Australia (A Panasonic Company)
Satisfaction

Refra is an exceptional partner to work with and we are excited to grow our relationship across APAC.

Chi Trinh
Commercial Manager – Natural Refrigeration & Service Solutions
Hussmann Australia (A Panasonic Company)
Training

Yes, Refra visited Australia and New Zealand and provided comprehensive training and educational opportunities equipping our team to effectively manage natural refrigerant-based equipment. This support significantly enhanced our knowledge and skills in operating and maintaining such systems.

Christer Stålhem
Nordic Sales & Solutions Manager – Industrial HVAC
Therma Industri AS
Performance

The R600a heat pump, utilizing the ammonia heat pump circuit as the evaporator source, has performed very well. It consistently delivers 80°C supply water at the top stage and meets the specified performance expectations.

Christer Stålhem
Nordic Sales & Solutions Manager – Industrial HVAC
Therma Industri AS
Quality & Reliability

The installation has demonstrated good reliability with no component-related failures. The gas detector was upgraded to an IR type following a brine leak in the main header that caused unwanted activation of the previously installed sensor.

Christer Stålhem
Nordic Sales & Solutions Manager – Industrial HVAC
Therma Industri AS
Safety

Yes, units is according to PED and EN 378. It is well ventilated and has safety futures like break of power incase leakage or under pressure in cabinet.

Christer Stålhem
Nordic Sales & Solutions Manager – Industrial HVAC
Therma Industri AS
Service

Yes, when there have been problems with units, Refra is supplying support and parts when needed.

Christer Stålhem
Nordic Sales & Solutions Manager – Industrial HVAC
Therma Industri AS
Satisfaction

We are very likely to work with this company again based on our positive overall experience. The product has delivered according to specifications, and the technical support and communication have been professional and responsive throughout the project. Overall reliability and cooperation have strengthened our confidence in future collaboration.

Christer Stålhem
Nordic Sales & Solutions Manager – Industrial HVAC
Therma Industri AS
Training

Yes, the partner has provided relevant technical guidance and knowledge sharing related to natural refrigerant-based systems. The support has been practical and solution-oriented, contributing positively to our ability to manage and operate the equipment effectively.

06
The company

REFRA: company profile.

Founded in 1994, Refra is a well-known manufacturer of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment in Europe today. Distinguished by a highly complex and unique offer of refrigeration products, the company can design and manufacture non-standard products, fully customized and completed according to customer requirements.

Work with REFRA

Tell us about your project — we'll route the conversation to the right team.

Get in touch

Become ATMO Approved

Does your company use natural refrigerants?

The ATMO Approved label is independently verified — not self-declared, not marketing. If your equipment runs on CO₂, ammonia, hydrocarbons, or water, you may qualify.

Apply for the labelLearn how the process works