Multinational home improvement company Kingfisher, and the European Water Association EurEau are the latest additions to ChemSec’s call to end the use of harmful PFAS chemicals in products and supply chains.

The call was first announced as a corporate commitment two weeks ago, following the screening of Hollywood movie Dark Waters in the EU Parliament, which is based on the true story of US attorney Robert Bilott who exposed decades of widespread PFAS pollution by chemical company Dupont.

Kingfisher and EurEau now join H&M Group and Coop Denmark, which have already signed the commitment.

ChemSec’s corporate PFAS initiative includes:

• A call on policy makers to regulate PFAS efficiently, without the possibility for manufacturers to simply swap one PFAS chemical for an unregulated “cousin”.
• A call on the chemical industry to invest in innovation and develop safer alternatives to PFAS for all kinds of products.
• A recognition that PFAS are a major health and environmental problem.
• A serious commitment to end all non-essential PFAS uses in products and supply chains.
• A call on all other brands to join this commitment and work towards a phase-out of PFAS in all kinds of consumer products.

Paul Ellis, Head of Sustainable Chemicals at Kingfisher, said:

“Kingfisher recognizes the problem with unregulated harmful chemicals, which is why we launched our chemicals phase out roadmap. PFAS are included in our priority chemicals as they are used in various product manufacturing processes. We take this issue seriously, however, we would benefit from a level playing field to ease the burden, which is why we are aligned with the ChemSec call for legislation to ban the use of substances like PFAS”

Oliver Loebel, Secretary General at EurEau, said:

“Many PFAS are very persistent and mobile. Once in the environment, they can stay there for many years. In order to maintain safe, clean, healthy and, above all, affordable water services for all our consumers of today and tomorrow across Europe, it is essential to keep PFAS out of the environment. The only effective way to achieve this is a ban of all non-essential PFAS applications”.

ChemSec strongly urges other businesses to join this corporate commitment and help create the momentum needed for legislative action on PFAS chemicals.