Are You At Risk From Changing PFAS Regulations?

The use of fluorocarbon-based chemicals and fluoropolymers (PFAS) has been called into question, with regulatory pressures for a change in their use.

PFAS is widely used across a range of industries, where their chemical resilience has made them essential to the successful operation of many critical components, including for applications such as coatings, seals, cables, firefighting foams, release agents, drilling fluid additives, and more.

However, their adverse environmental impact, and the potential for bioaccumulation and entry into the food chain, has led to a rise in litigation against PFAS manufacturers, driving more restrictive regulations around the world - and particularly in Europe.

While these developments are already impacting PFAS manufacturers, there are concerns that end-users may also be affected by new regulations or even litigation. This has created uncertainty over the continued use of these materials that could have wide-reaching impacts for a variety of industries. Against this backdrop, legislative changes are poised to reshape industry practices that could lead to supply chain risks as a result of restricted use or an eventual ban.

We understand that this could have wide-reaching consequences for a range of different industries and TWI Technology Fellow, Dr Alan Taylor FRSC FIMMM has been offering insights into the changing regulatory landscape for PFAS at a range of different events across Europe.

The independent nature of TWI means that Dr Taylor has been able to provide clear and impartial information at events including:

1. Applied Market Information Ltd’s (AMI) ‘Cables’ event, which took place from 5-7 March 2024 at the Hilton Düsseldorf in Düsseldorf, Germany, where Dr Taylor presented an, ‘Introduction to PFAS and the Emerging Business Risk’
2. TWI’s webinar, ‘PFAS and REACH – the Changing Landscape for Fluoropolymers’ on 19 July, 2024, where Dr Taylor was joined by TWI Industry Sector Manager, Chris Wiseman to address the regulatory situation and assess the future for PFAS use across industry. This was attended by representatives from over 70 companies from more than 20 different countries
3. Applied Market Information Ltd’s (AMI) PFAS workshop in Brussels, Belgium on 10 September, 2024, where Dr Taylor delivered important information on the changing landscape of PFAS regulations
4. The SPE Middle East Additives and Colour Conference and PFAS Symposium in Saudi Arabia at the Riyadh Marriott Hotel in Riyadh from 16-17 October, where Dr Taylor offered a greater understanding of the factors that are impacting industry in relation to PFAS elimination, including the technical and commercial implications and a look at alternative solutions

With Dr Taylor also due to present at an upcoming event hosted by The Royal Society of Chemistry, the topic of PFAS regulations, new materials, and the implications of PFAS substitution is of great interest to many different industry sectors.

How TWI Can Help

TWI invites Industrial Members and other interested parties to join our soon-to-launch Joint Industry Project, ‘PFAS - Assessing and addressing the business risk within a changing regulatory and ESG landscape.’ By joining the project you will gain exclusive access to the project outcomes while spreading the cost of the work between yourself and the other sponsors.

We are holding an online event for the PFAS Joint Industry Project on 5 November, 2024, between 11:00 and 12:00 GMT, giving you the opportunity to find out more.

You can see more about this event, including a list of speakers, and register to attend via our events page, here: PFAS Joint Industry Project Launch Event.

To find out more about the Joint Industry Project before the event, please see here, where you can also access the project proposal: PFAS Project Proposal and Summary Outline.