PFAS-free innovation is no longer a luxury or technical niche. It has turned into a necessity, with bans and upcoming restrictions across the globe. It is fair to say that a broad industrial transformation is taking place, reshaping many sectors of industry.
Wherever you look, safer alternatives are emerging. This is happening across nearly every sector where “forever chemicals” were once thought to be necessary.
A comprehensive PFAS ban in the EU and elsewhere is now the last piece of the puzzle for these alternative technologies to truly take off. Without such a ban, innovative companies risk being punished by legacy producers that continue using PFAS.
PFAS-free innovation goes from zero to hundreds
When five EU member states first proposed a universal ban on PFAS three years ago, very few companies said it was making products using PFAS-free alternative materials.
This year, during another public consultation period, hundreds of companies answered “Yes” to the question: Do suitable PFAS-free alternatives exist?
This represents a remarkable shift in just three years. Companies that do not use PFAS are far less incentivised to take part in these public consultations. So, the figure above strongly underestimates the trend.
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The hottest sectors: where change is happening
Food packaging
This is perhaps the hottest area for innovation. Market research suggests PFAS-free food packaging is already more than 10% of the total US food packaging market today and growing faster than the market as a whole.
PFAS-free coated paper and cardboard are the leading materials. Innovations are constantly emerging in this segment.
Three examples from ChemSec Marketplace are grease-resistant packaging, coatings for beverage cans, and specialty coatings for fast food containers.
Textiles and outdoor clothing
Companies have long used PFAS chemicals to waterproof textiles. But now, new breathable waterproof membranes are being engineered to match (and improve on) the protective performance of PFAS.
Manufacturers are queuing up to offer water and stain-repellent solutions, such as membranes, fabric treatments, and textile finishings.
In fact, major clothing brands like Nike, lululemon and H&M have already phased out PFAS from their products. This shows that not only do PFAS-free alternatives exist, they are also commercially available and scaled to match the demand of some of the top brands.
Surfactants
Surfactants are compounds that lower surface tensions. While PFAS have been heavily used, the PFAS-free surfactant market is growing rapidly. Artificial intelligence is accelerating the speed of innovation.
Companies are now providing several commercial PFAS-free alternatives, including wetting additives, surface smoothers, and non-stick paints.
Medical devices
Long seen as a no-go area for regulation, the medical technology field is today bursting with PFAS-free innovation. US trade journal Plastics Today recently described the “plethora of opportunities to source PFAS-free plastics” for medical applications.
And plastics are where the bulk of innovation lies. Speciality polymers, high-performance polyamides, and catheter materials are three examples of alternatives listed on ChemSec Marketplace.
Big Chem is also involved in PFAS-free innovation
These are not just niche manufacturers — the global chemical giants are also joining the rush:
Shell is developing a PFAS-free polymer processing aid. BASF this year launched a PFAS-free outdoor textile, with water-repellent offerings also from Chemours and Daikin. Dow is producing PFAS-free surfactants. And DuPont offers specialised PFAS-free lubricant additives.
Marketplace as a measure — and a driver of PFAS-free innovation
ChemSec’s Marketplace gathers all green chemistry innovations in one place, making it easier for companies to choose safer solutions.
Apart from the sectors above, the 200+ PFAS-free alternatives available on ChemSec Marketplace right now include solutions for the electronics, energy, plastics, transport, and construction sectors — along with many more.
In recent months, ChemSec has seen the flow of PFAS-free innovations accelerate to the extent that we cannot keep up.
A seismic shift
This brief overview reveals a blossoming of PFAS-free innovation at company level. For companies that move early, there is first-mover advantage. Those that delay face growing legal and procurement risks.
The danger now is that innovative companies will be punished by legacy producers who want to continue using PFAS, making new technologies less competitive.
Alternative technologies are on the threshold of rapid growth. They need a ban on PFAS to achieve lift-off.
