Day 007 - 06 Jul 94 - Page 19

     
     1        A.  Well, we certainly knew at the writing of that note
              that in 1988 HCFC 22 would have 5 per cent of the ozone
     2        depletion potential.  We knew we did not want to stay in
              that for a long time.
     3
         Q.   Am I right, it is now given a somewhat more villainous
     4        character by the scientists?
              A.  Apparently so.  I have not followed it as much in the
     5        recent years, only because we are not using HCFC 22 in the
              States.
     6
         Q.   That is your principal responsibility?
     7        A.  Correct, it is.
 
     8   Q.   That is because in the States paper came in to take the
              place of foam?
     9        A.  We replaced the sandwich foam packaging with paper
              wraps.
    10
         Q.   So far as the States are concerned, you did not have to
         worry about HCFC 22?
              A.  Correct.
    12
         Q.   Can I ask you about some possible alternative blowing
    13        agents, first of all hydrocarbons.  What is the most
              common form of hydrocarbon used to blow foam?
    14        A.  Likely pentane.
 
    15   Q.   Is butane also used?
              A.  Butane is also used.
    16
         Q.   So far as you are aware, does the emission of hydrocarbons
    17        into the atmosphere create environmental problems?
              A.  The emission of hydrocarbons does have an
    18        environmental impact, as does any manufacturing process,
              and we viewed the balance between environmental impact of
    19        hydrocarbons versus CFCs to be much better.
 
    20   Q.   Two other gases as possibilities for use as blowing
              agents:  First of all nitrogen, is that a benign
         substance?
              A.  Nitrogen would certainly be a benign substance.  It is
    22        most of what constitutes the air we breathe, but I am not
              aware of any commercially available technology to use
    23        nitrogen as a foam blowing agent.
 
    24   Q.   If it were available, would you use it?
              A.  Certainly we would evaluate that.
    25
         Q.   What about carbon dioxide?  It is now the case in some 
    26        areas of the world it is used? 
              A.  Carbon dioxide is used as a blowing agent for foam 
    27        packaging.  Perseco views it that the environmental impact
              of carbon dioxide is better than hydrocarbons because we
    28        do not create carbon dioxide to use to blow the foam;
              carbon dioxide is in essence recycled from other
    29        manufacturing or industrial processes, so there is no net
              increase in the amount of carbon dioxide emissions that we
    30        would contribute.