Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Cancer
    • Chemicals, Toxics, and Pesticide
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Radon
    • Research
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • Our Mission and What We Do
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Labs and Research Centers
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Organization Chart
    • EPA History

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP)

Substitutes in Polystyrene: Extruded Boardstock and Billet

Substitutes are reviewed on the basis of environmental and health risks, including factors such as ozone depletion potential, global warming potential, toxicity, flammability, and exposure potential. Lists of acceptableThis designation means that a substitute may be used, without restriction, to replace the relevant ODS within the end-use specified. For example, HCFC-22 is an acceptable substitute for R-502 in industrial process refrigeration. Note that all SNAP determinations apply to the use of a specific product as a substitute for a specific ODS in a specific end-use. and UnacceptableThis designation means that it is illegal to use a product as a substitute for an ODS in a specific end-use. For example, HCFC-141b is an unacceptable substitute for CFC-11 in building chillers. Note that all SNAP determinations apply to the use of a specific product as a substitute for a specific ODS in a specific end-use. substitutes are updated several times each year. The list of substitutes is shown below.

Many acceptable substitutes under SNAP may be restricted under the Technology Transitions Program. For more information on Technology Transitions Program restrictions, visit: https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction/technology-transitions-program

Note: SNAP-related information published in the Federal Register takes precedence over all information on this page.

Filters              
Substitute Trade Name(s) ODPA number that refers to the amount of ozone depletion caused by a substance. The ODP is the ratio of the impact on ozone of a chemical compared to the impact of a similar mass of CFC-11. Thus, the ODP of CFC-11 is defined to be 1.0. Other CFCs and HCFCs have ODPs that range from 0.01 to 1.0. The halons have ODPs ranging up to 10. Carbon tetrachloride has an ODP of 1.2, and methyl chloroform's ODP is 0.11. HFCs have zero ODP because they do not contain chlorine. A table of all ozone-depleting substances (http://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/ods/index.html) shows their ODPs, GWPs, and CAS numbers. GWPThe index used to translate the level of emissions of various gases into a common measure in order to compare the relative radiative forcing of different gases without directly calculating the changes in atmospheric concentrations. GWPs are calculated as the ratio of the radiative forcing that would result from the emissions of one kilogram of a greenhouse gas to that from the emission of one kilogram of carbon dioxide over a period of time (usually 100 years). Gases involved in complex atmospheric chemical processes have not been assigned GWPs. See lifetime. Flammable SNAP Listing Date Listing Status[1] Further Information
Commercial blends of HFC-365mfc and HFC-227ea containing 7% to 13% HFC-227ea and the remainder HFC-365mfc  Solkane® 365/227 0 N/A no May 17, 2013 (pdf) (279 KB);
July 20, 2015 (pdf) (686 KB);
December 1, 2016 (pdf) (969 KB)
Unacceptable, except where allowed under narrowed use limits for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2021.

Unacceptable for military applications as of January 1, 2022 and for space- and aeronautics-related applications as of January 1, 2025.
 
Blends of HCFC-22 / Saturated Light Hydrocarbons (C3-C6)   >0 N/A N/A March 18, 1994;
July 20, 2015 (pdf) (686 KB)
Unacceptable as of September 18, 2015.  
Carbon Dioxide   0 1 no March 18, 1994;
June 8, 1999 (pdf) (142 KB)
Acceptable  
Methyl Formate EcomateTM 0 5 or less yes September 28, 2006 (pdf) (182 KB) Acceptable  
Electroset Technology   0 N/A N/A August 26, 1994;
June 16, 2010 (pdf) (229 KB)
Acceptable  
Exxsol Blowing Agents Exxsol Blowing Agents 0 5 or less yes December 6, 1999 (pdf) (225 KB);
June 16, 2010 (pdf) (229 KB)
Acceptable  
Formacel® B Formacel® B 0 140 - 1,500 N/A[2] January 2, 2009 (pdf) (173 KB);
July 20, 2015 (pdf) (686 KB);
December 1, 2016 (pdf) (969 KB)
Unacceptable, except where allowed under narrowed use limits for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2021.

Unacceptable for military applications as of January 1, 2022 and for space- and aeronautics-related applications as of January 1, 2025.
 
Formacel® TI Formacel® TI 0 1,330 - 1,500 no September 30, 2009 (pdf) (172 KB);
July 20, 2015 (pdf) (686 KB);
December 1, 2016 (pdf) (969 KB)
Unacceptable, except where allowed under narrowed use limits for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2021.

Unacceptable for military applications as of January 1, 2022 and for space- and aeronautics-related applications as of January 1, 2025.
 
Formacel® Z-6 Formacel® Z-6 0 370 - 1,290 N/A[2] August 10, 2012;
July 20, 2015 (pdf) (686 KB);
December 1, 2016 (pdf) (969 KB)
Unacceptable, except where allowed under narrowed use limits for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2021.

Unacceptable for military applications as of January 1, 2022 and for space- and aeronautics-related applications as of January 1, 2025.
 
HCFC-124   0.022 609 no July 22, 2002 (pdf) (217 KB) Unacceptable Alternatives exist with lower or zero ODP.
HCFC-141b   0.12 725 no September 30, 2004 (pdf) (198 KB);
July 20, 2015 (pdf) (686 KB)
Unacceptable Alternatives exist with lower or zero ODP.
HCFC-22, HCFC-142b or blends thereof   >0 N/A no July 22, 2002 (pdf) (217 KB);
July 20, 2015 (pdf) (686 KB)
Unacceptable Alternatives exist with lower or zero ODP.
HFC-134a   0 1,430 no March 18, 1994;
June 8, 1999 (pdf) (142 KB);
July 20, 2015 (pdf) (686 KB);
December 1, 2016 (pdf) (969 KB)
Unacceptable, except where allowed under narrowed use limits for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2021.

Unacceptable for military applications as of January 1, 2022 and for space- and aeronautics-related applications as of January 1, 2025.
 
HFC-143a   0 4,470 yes August 26, 1994 Acceptable  
HFC-152a   0 124 yes March 18, 1994;
June 8, 1999 (pdf) (142 KB)
Acceptable  
HFC-245fa   0 1,030 no December 6, 1999 (pdf) (225 KB);
August 21, 2003 (pdf) (160 KB);
July 20, 2015 (pdf) (686 KB);
December 1, 2016 (pdf) (969 KB)
Unacceptable, except where allowed under narrowed use limits for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2021.

Unacceptable for military applications as of January 1, 2022 and for space- and aeronautics-related applications as of January 1, 2025.
 
HFC-365mfc   0 794 yes September 30, 2009 (pdf) (172 KB);
June 16, 2010 (pdf) (229 KB);
July 20, 2015 (pdf) (686 KB);
December 1, 2016 (pdf) (969 KB)
Unacceptable, except where allowed under narrowed use limits for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2021.

Unacceptable for military applications as of January 1, 2022 and for space- and aeronautics-related applications as of January 1, 2025.
 
HFO-1234ze   0 6 no September 30, 2009 (pdf) (172 KB) Acceptable  
Blends of 10 to 99 percent by weight HFO–1336mzz(Z) and the remainder HFC–152a   0 3-110 yes December 11, 2020 (pdf) (262 KB) Acceptable  
Saturated Light Hydrocarbons (C3-C6)   0 3 - 10 yes March 18, 1994;
April 11, 2000 (pdf) (220 KB);
June 16, 2010 (pdf) (229 KB)
Acceptable  
Water   0 N/A no June 8, 1999 (pdf) (142 KB) Acceptable  
Blends of 10 to 90 percent HFO-1234ze(E) by weight and the remainder HCFO-1233zd(E) Solstice® XBA-1 <0.00004 to <0.0004 1.3-3.43 yes January 20, 2022 (pdf) (375 KB) Acceptable  
Blends of 10 to 90 percent HFO-1234ze(E) by weight and the remainder HFC-152a Solstice® XBA-2 0 13-112 yes January 20, 2022 (pdf) (375 KB) Acceptable  
Blends of zero to 100 percent HFO-1234ze(E), zero to 70 percent methyl formate, zero to 60 percent HFC-152a, zero to 60 percent CO2, and zero to 60 percent water   0 <80 yes January 20, 2022 (pdf) (375 KB) Acceptable  
Blends of zero to 90 percent HFO-1336mzz(Z), zero to 90 percent HFO-1234ze(E), zero to 75 percent HFC-152a, and zero to 90 percent CO2   0 1-94 yes December 11, 2024 (pdf) (300 KB) Acceptable  

1 Use of closed cell foam products and products that contain closed cell foam manufactured with an Unacceptable foam blowing agent prohibited on or before the later of: 1) December 1, 2017, or 2) the date when the foam blowing agent is Unacceptable.

2 Some components and some blends are flammable.

Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on April 23, 2025
  • Assistance
  • Spanish
  • Arabic
  • Chinese (simplified)
  • Chinese (traditional)
  • French
  • Haitian Creole
  • Korean
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Tagalog
  • Vietnamese
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions
  • Site Feedback

Follow.