The SF6 gas alone has no immediate impact on the environment due to its inert nature. Despite that, the staggering global warming potential it has can cause a serious problem in the long run. It is a greenhouse gas that accumulates in the atmosphere which captures the heat released from the earth’s surface and reflects it.

The disposal methods for SF6 involves the complete decomposition of the gas which is categorized into the conventional and advanced approaches. Incineration is the most common conventional method being practiced. The issues associated with cost and toxic by-products formation sparked the search and development for alternative technologies such as NTP.

Based on the literature as a whole, the only issues that are hindering the NTP techniques from maturing are the combination of power supply, additive gases, flowrates, concentrations and length of reactor that will result in the highest possible decomposition efficiency of SF6 and the removal of its toxic counterparts from being released to the environment. The experiments mainly focus on small-scale plasma systems that utilize very small volumes and flowrates.

The most common use for and largest emission source of SF6, both domestically and internationally, is as an electrical insulator in high-voltage equipment that transmits and distributes electricity. Approximately 67% of all SF6 emissions in the United States is attributed to the electrical transmission and distribution sector in 2022 based on the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks.

SF6-containing equipment is designed to avoid emitting any of this gas into the atmosphere. However, SF6 gas can inadvertently escape as leaks develop during various stages of the equipment's lifecycle, including manufacturing, installation, maintenance and servicing, and de-commissioning. In some cases, significant leaks can occur from aging equipment.

Several factors affect SF6 emissions from electric power systems, such as the type and age of the SF6-containing equipment (e.g., old circuit breakers can contain up to 2,000 pounds of SF6, while modern breakers usually contain less than 100 pounds) and the handling and maintenance procedures practiced by electric utilities.