The PROZON Foundation at the 13th Polish Chemistry Congress 2026: On circularity that builds competitive advantage.

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On June 11–12, 2026, the PROZON Foundation participated in the 13th “Polish Chemistry” Congress in Warsaw—one of the most important events dedicated to the future of the Polish and European chemical industries. The Foundation was represented by Krzysztof Grzegorczyk, President of the Management Board of PROZON, who took part in a panel discussion titled “Circularity in Practice: How the Industry Builds Competitive Advantage.”

This year’s Congress focused on challenges directly impacting the competitiveness of the European industry: rising energy costs, regulatory pressure, raw material security, financing the transition, decarbonization, digitalization, and the circular economy. A key part of the program was a discussion on whether current regulations support the development of Europe’s long-term raw material autonomy and how circularity can become a genuine source of economic advantage.

Representatives of industry, technology, and the environmental sector at the same table

The debate was moderated by Daniel Chojnacki, and the panel, in addition to the President of PROZON, included:

  • Anna Zalewska, PhD, Eng., Advocacy Manager at BASF Polska,
  • Grzegorz Semerjak, Director of Technology and Development at ORLEN Południe,
  • Kamil Berdzik, Sales and Production Director and Member of the Management Board of Epichem Systems.

This diverse panel allowed for a closer look at the circular economy from a diverse perspective.użego przemysłu chemicznego, technologii, zagospodarowania odpadów, regulacji oraz praktycznego ponownego wykorzystania surowców.

Circularity must be profitable and scalable.

One of the key takeaways from the debate was that the circular transition cannot be limited to environmental declarations or reporting obligations. For circular economy solutions to be implemented on a large scale, they must simultaneously improve resource efficiency and maintain the cost-competitiveness of enterprises.

Thus, circularity entails not only reducing waste but also recovering valuable materials, decreasing reliance on virgin raw material supplies, stabilizing supply chains, and developing technologies that enable the reuse of products and components.

PROZON as a producer of reclaimed refrigerants

During the panel, Krzysztof Grzegorczyk pointed out that the activities of the PROZON Foundation extend beyond the mere collection and management of used refrigerants. The Foundation also produces reclaimed refrigerants which, following appropriate technological processes and quality control, can be reintroduced to the market.

This approach serves as a practical example of the circular economy. Refrigerant that might otherwise be treated solely as waste is recovered, purified, and restored for reuse.

This makes it possible to reduce the demand for new raw materials, lower emissions associated with the production of virgin refrigerants, and enhance supply stability within the Polish and European markets. Amid the gradual restriction of fluorinated greenhouse gas availability and mounting regulatory pressure, this is significant not only from an environmental perspective but also in economic and strategic terms.

Circularity and the achievement of ESG goals

ESG-related issues were also a key topic of discussion. Collaboration with PROZON enables companies to demonstrate concrete actions taken to protect the climate, reduce resource consumption, and ensure the proper management of substances used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems.

The recovery and reclamation of refrigerants allow broad environmental goals to be translated into measurable operational processes. For companies, this means the opportunity to reduce their environmental footprint, improve waste management, and implement a circular economy in practice—rather than merely at the level of strategy and reporting.

RE-ELECTRO Project – a second life for parts and devices

The RE-ELECTRO project, implemented by the Foundation, was also presented during the panel. Its goal is to develop solutions for recovering parts from decommissioned refrigeration and air-conditioning units.

Components recovered from the units are sorted, diagnosed, and tested to determine their potential for reuse. This makes it possible to identify parts that—instead of undergoing material recycling or being treated as waste—can re-enter the supply chain and be used again.

The project demonstrates that the circular economy should encompass not only the recycling of raw materials but also the repair, refurbishment, and reuse of entire components. Such practices extend product lifecycles, limit the consumption of new materials, and reduce waste generation.

Why is PROZON’s participation in the Polish Chemistry Congress important?

The presence of the PROZON Foundation among representatives of major chemical companies, public administration bodies, research institutions, and regulatory experts confirms that the management of refrigerants is a key element of the much broader discussion regarding the future of the industry.

Refrigerants are chemical substances of great importance to refrigeration, air conditioning, industry, commerce, transport, and food security. How they are managed impacts greenhouse gas emissions, the availability of raw materials, system operating costs, and the ability of enterprises to meet new regulatory requirements.

PROZON’s participation in the Congress allows the refrigeration industry’s experience to be integrated into the debate on the competitiveness of the chemical industry as a whole. It also serves as an opportunity to demonstrate that the circular economy is not merely a legislative concept but a model that can be effectively implemented in practice—through recovery, reclamation, reuse, and the development of new technologies.

The circular economy as an element of industrial resilience

Discussions held during the 13th “Polish Chemistry” Congress highlighted that, amidst unstable supply chains, rising production costs, and global competition, access to recovered and regenerated raw materials is becoming increasingly important.

For PROZON, this means continuing initiatives pursued for nearly 30 years: establishing refrigerant recovery systems, expanding capabilities for their regeneration and separation, developing technological infrastructure, and exploring new ways to reuse parts and materials.

We thank the Polish Chamber of Chemical Industry for the invitation to participate in the event, and all panel participants for the substantive discussion and exchange of experiences. Dialogue among industry representatives, experts, and environmental organizations is essential for the effective development and large-scale implementation of circular solutions.