Man-made chemicals PFAS face possible EU ban from 2026: It is time to assess its impact on your production value chain

10,000+ PFAS chemicals might need to be removed or replaced 

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made chemicals widely used in industry and consumer products worldwide since the 1940s. The term covers more than 10,000 chemicals characterised by durability and persistence.  

You can find PFAS in everything from water-repellent clothing, cleaning products, nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics and carpets, personal care products like shampoo and makeup, to semiconductors, solar panels, medical devices, firefighting foams, and products that resist water, grease, water and oil. They don't break down and accumulate over time. Tests have increasingly found the substances in almost all natural environments, in food, and blood samples of most people. 

Total EU ban of PFAS on the table from 2026 

In February 2023, a proposed EU ban started rocking the boat of production companies everywhere: The 2000-page restriction proposal put forward by Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands and Germany advocated a total ban of PFAS with a few time-limited exceptions. It is one of the broadest restriction proposals in EU history. For products that do not fall under the exceptions, PFAS will no longer be allowed one and a half years after the adoption of the final proposal. 

A full or part PFAS ban could impact the majority of industries  

If you are in industries like electronics, metal processing, food production, pharma, Power-to-X and chemical manufacturing, a potential PFAS ban will seriously impact how you source materials and conduct your production value chain. Now is the time to map out any dependence on PFAS, what can be done to replace these chemicals and make the necessary changes to your production should the ban go into effect in 2026. 

Get in touch to find out how we can help you assess your use of PFAS now. We can also assist you in finding out how to find alternatives to PFAS and adapt your production if the total PFAS ban or ban with use-specific derogations goes into effect.