Some products contain substances that break down the protective ozone layer that shields our planet from harmful ultraviolet rays. Your team should check to make sure that the products it is using are not inadvertently damaging the ozone layer.

Consider contacting your team’s suppliers to ask about the ozone depleting potential of the products they provide. The product specifications listed below should serve as a useful guide on how to avoid these chemicals.

• Does not contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
• Does not contain halons
• Does not contain carbon tetrachloride
• Does not contain methyl chloroform
• Does not contain hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)
• Does not contain methyl bromide

Green Seal’s preferable product list contains several less harmful options for a range of product categories. You may also wish to consult the Oikos Green Product Database and EPA’s Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Database, which contains product specifications and contract language for a wide variety of additional products.

Ozone depleting compounds are being phased out of most products as a result of the Montreal Protocol, but unfortunately, they can still be found in certain products. Take care when purchasing the following types of products:

• Refrigerators
• Air conditioners
• Heat pumps
• Aerosols
• Solvents
• Foam

Dear _______,

The Philadelphia Phillies have recently begun a comprehensive effort to improve their environmental performance in all aspects of their operations. We would like to meet with you to discuss these objectives in more detail. We would also like to discuss ways to cost-effectively switch to products within the next few years that do not contribute to the depletion the ozone layer.

We would like to reduce as much as possible the harmful effects on the environment and public health that are associated with our operations, and we would like to speak with you to ensure that the products we are purchasing do not contribute to this problem.

Please call me as soon as you can so that we can set a time for a meeting to pursue this discussion.

Very Truly Yours,

Beneficial atmospheric ozone – as opposed to harmful ground-level ozone – filters out ultraviolet radiation from the sun that can cause cancer. Many products, such as refrigerants and aerosols, were once made with compounds that destroyed ozone when they were released into the atmosphere. In 1985, scientists discovered that concentrations of ozone in the atmosphere were falling rapidly, especially near the poles. This drop has since been attributed to ozone depleting substances such as CFCs and HCFCs. Although the Montreal Protocol treaty has greatly reduced the use of CFCs, some products in some countries are still made with this harmful chemical.

EPA ozone depletion home
Class I ozone depleting substances
Class II ozone depleting substances
NOAA - Ozone home
NASA’s Ozone Hole Watch
Environmental Benefits and Cost Savings Calculator for Purchasers