Partnership
Global challenges require global networks
IIAR and eurammon: Two Continents, One Mission for Natural Refrigeration
The story of natural refrigeration in the Americas is one of proven solutions gaining renewed momentum, built on more than a century of experience and decades of significant progress.
By The International Institute of All-Natural Refrigeration, IIAR. Yesenia Rector, Vice President - Education, Outreach and Events, IIAR
Ammonia has long been the foundation of industrial refrigeration across North America and Latin America. It remains the primary refrigerant for food processing, cold storage, and other large industrial applications. In the United States alone, an estimated 25,000 ammonia systems are in operation, representing approximately 80 to 90 percent of the industrial refrigeration market. Across Latin America, ammonia also supports food production, agricultural exports, and the continued expansion of the cold chain.
Low charge ammonia systems, packaged equipment, advanced controls, enhanced leak detection, and predictive monitoring are expanding where and how ammonia can be used. These advances are reducing refrigerant charges, improving safety, and opening the door to applications once served almost exclusively by synthetic refrigerants.
At the same time, the use of carbon dioxide has accelerated rapidly, particularly in food retail. A 2026 survey conducted by the North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council, or NASRC, included 18 major United States food retailers representing more than 29,000 stores. The survey projects that the number of CO₂ systems in the United States will exceed 10,000 by 2029. CO₂ is becoming the dominant technology in new store construction, while installations of CO₂ systems replacing existing refrigeration equipment are significantly outpacing installations in newly constructed stores. CO₂ has become part of the long-term planning of major companies across the Americas.
“Natural refrigerants are proven. They are sustainable. And they are essential to the future of refrigeration.”
Yesenia Rector, IIAR
IIAR has played a central role in this progress. Through ammonia and CO2 standards creation and updates, education programs development, collaboration with allied associations, advocacy to government agencies, and the application of research results, IIAR has helped establish the technical foundation for the safe and effective use of natural refrigerants. IIAR standards for natural refrigeration systems are approved by the American National Standards Institute, or ANSI, as U.S. National Standards. They have also been incorporated into model codes adopted by jurisdictions throughout the United States and are increasingly used across Latin America. IIAR’s Latin American chapters and seminars bring practical education and professional development directly to local markets.
This work is strengthened by IIAR’s partnership with eurammon. For 30 years, eurammon has advanced the use of natural refrigerants across Europe. IIAR and eurammon operate in different regulatory environments and take different approaches to standards, but our goal is the same: to advance safe, sustainable, and reliable refrigeration using natural refrigerants.
Our cooperation reflects the global nature of that mission. Natural refrigerants are proven. They are sustainable. And they are essential to the future of refrigeration.
Together, IIAR and eurammon connect technical expertise with practical application, helping industry leaders, regulators, engineers, and technicians learn from the progress made on both continents. This partnership also helps ensure that regional differences strengthen, rather than divide, the global natural refrigeration community.
Two organizations, two continents, one focus: creating a better world through the safe and sustainable use of natural refrigerants.
Part of our anniversary publication “30 Years of Championing Refrigerants by Nature”.
