WILMINGTON, Del., Oct. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- DuPont Fluorochemicals (DuPont) announced today that Formacel® 1100 has received approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program for use as a foam expansion agent or blowing agent.

The purpose of the SNAP Program is to allow a safe, smooth transition away from ozone-depleting compounds by identifying substitutes that offer lower overall risks to human health and the environment.

Formacel® 1100 will meet the growing demand for a low global warming potential (GWP) solution with zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) that improves energy efficiency in polyurethane foam insulation. DuPont previously announced that it expects to make small scale commercial volumes of Formacel® 1100 available in late 2014 and that full-scale commercial capacity will be available from its world-class facility in the second half of 2016.

DuPont(TM) Formacel® 1100 foam expansion agent will meet the long-term needs of polyurethane foam customers for non-flammable, high efficiency, low GWP solutions. Formacel® 1100 foam expansion agent can help significantly reduce the environmental footprint of rigid polyurethane foam insulation around the world. In addition to its extremely low global warming potential and zero ozone depletion potential, Formacel® 1100 also offers excellent thermal insulation performance allowing for reduced energy consumption, which further reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

"DuPont continues to support the President's Global Climate Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the continued development and commercialization of low GWP solutions," said Thierry F.J. Vanlancker, president, DuPont Chemicals & Fluoroproducts. "Formacel® 1100 provides a breakthrough product in response to regulatory and sustainability demands which will not only reduce GWP, but will also improve energy efficiency further reducing climate change impact."

"DuPont Fluorochemicals continues to develop and commercialize new high-value offerings based on our breakthrough HFO technology to meet our customers' needs for low GWP solutions," said Kathryn K. McCord, global business director, DuPont Fluorochemicals. "Formacel® 1100 will enable our customers to reduce the global warming potential by greater than 99 percent compared to the HFCs used in rigid polyurethane insulating foams that it will replace.

For more information on DuPont(TM) Formacel® products, please visit http://www2.dupont.com/Formacel/en_US/index.html.

DuPont - one of the first companies to publicly establish environmental goals more than 20 years ago - has broadened its sustainability commitments beyond internal footprint reduction to include market-driven targets for both revenue and research and development investment. The goals are tied directly to business growth, specifically to the development of safer and environmentally improved new products for key global markets.

DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit http://www.dupont.com.

The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont(TM) and Formacel® are trademarks or registered trademarks DuPont or its affiliates.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-environmental-protection-agency-approves-dupont-fluorochemicals-foam-expansion-agent-with-low-global-warming-potential-gwp-637749105.html

SOURCE DuPont