Read the full article by Stefan Scheuer (CHEM Trust)
“Yesterday, Member States gave a green light for restricting a subgroup of the ‘forever chemicals’, PFAS, from food packaging and clothing and other uses. The restriction presented by the European Commission to Member States covers PFHxA, its salts and related substances, a subgroup of PFAS. They are used in large quantities in sectors such as clothing, textiles and paper and cardboard food packaging, to achieve water, oil and stain repellency, and are extremely persistent chemicals that can accumulate in human bodies and the environment according to the restriction dossier.
The restriction will apply to clothing for the general public and to paper and card food packaging two years after coming into force. For non-clothing textiles, it will apply after three years. Certain personal protective equipment is exempted from the restriction. Recent studies have shown that PFAS-free food packaging and clothing are already available in the EU. Several outdoor clothing brands, like North Face, Black Diamond and VAUDE have invested in PFAS-free alternatives.
Stefan Scheuer at CHEM Trust said,
The restriction is another step towards PFAS-free food packaging and clothing. It is high time to end the use of all forever chemicals in consumer products and to turn the tide against the chemical industry’s massive emissions into the environment. This is the only way to stop PFAS pollution from building up in our water, our food, and ourselves.