The ACR methodology for Reductions from the Transition to Advanced Formulation Blowing Agents in Foam Manufacturing and Use is inactive and ineligible for crediting projects on ACR. Due to the success of market-based incentives such as provided through ACR’s Methodology for the Quantification, Monitoring, Reporting and Verification of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions and Removals from the Transition to Advanced Formulation Blowing Agents in Foam Manufacturing and Use, first published in 2016, low-GWP foam blowing agents (FBA) are being deployed at increasing rates. Starting in 2025, United States regulations (especially the Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons: Restrictions on the Use of Certain Hydrofluorocarbons under Subsection (i) of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020) will require the use of lower-GWP foam blowing agents, thereby reducing the impact of carbon market finance to accelerate the transition to climate friendlier FBA alternatives.  For these reasons, ACR made the FBA Methodology inactive on December 31, 2024.

The methodology was developed by ACR.

Version 3.0 updates previous versions that were developed in partnership with Dentons U.S., LLP, Foam Supplies, Inc., Global Chemical Consultants, and Susan Wood Consulting. True Manufacturing, Inc., cooperated with version 2.0 of this methodology.

It is common for foam used in certain technologies to be produced using blowing agents that contain hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) which are released during foam manufacture, use, and at end-of-life. According to the EPA Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions and Sinks, industrial process emissions account for over 300 MMT CO2e/year, over half of which is from chemicals such as HFCs.

HFCs have relatively high global warming potentials and are also considered short-lived climate pollutants so mitigating emissions of HFC is important for limiting near term climate impacts. In fact, emissions of HFCs are considered one of the fastest growing sources of GHG emissions globally and there is currently no globally agreed phase out schedule for HFC consumption or production.

Alternatives to these HFC-based blowing agents are available but are not currently commonly used in certain segments of the foam manufacturing industry. The eligible sectors included in the methodology are as follows:

• Extruded polystyrene boardstock
• Two-component rigid polyurethane spray foam
• Rigid polyurethane foam used in residential refrigerators and freezers
• Rigid polyurethane injected foam used in the following sub-applications:
  • Marine flotation or buoyancy
  • Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Air Handling Systems
  • Refrigerated Transport
  • Industrial Refrigeration Systems
  • Garage and entry doors
  • Retail Food Refrigeration

ACR is an internationally recognized carbon crediting program that operates in global compliance and voluntary carbon markets. A nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, ACR was founded in 1996 as the first private greenhouse gas (GHG) registry in the world with the mission of harnessing the power of markets to improve the environment.