Companies operating in the U.S. are now liable for more than $19 billion in damages from PFAS lawsuits since 2021. This is only the beginning.
More than 7,500 cases have been filed in U.S. State and Federal courts since 2018 — including 30 states filing lawsuits directly. And if that wasn’t bad enough, insurers have started dropping their coverage for companies’ PFAS-related risks, shifting even more responsibility (and expenses) onto businesses themselves.
This isn’t just limited to companies operating within the U.S., either. Recently, lawsuits over PFAS contamination have started popping off in the EU as well. And while the often under-regulated and over-litigated U.S. may be leading the charge, companies across the globe (and their investors) should be taking note.
While nearly 20 companies have now settled lawsuits over PFAS violations in the U.S., these eight companies are liable for more than 99% of the damages:
3M
HQ: Saint Paul, USA
2025 net income: $3.3 billion
ChemScore ranking: 32/40
Total damages from PFAS violations: $14.0 billion
Settled PFAS lawsuits: 11
Largest penalty to date: $12.5 billion
Penalty details:
In March 2024, 3M agreed to pay up to $12.5 billion to settle a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) alleging it was responsible for contaminating thousands of public water systems in South Carolina with dangerous PFAS chemicals from firefighting foams.
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3M is currently arguing that all state-level court fillings for PFAS violations should be moved to federal court instead — a tactic previously employed by tobacco and opioid industries when facing massive liability risks.
In their 2025 third quarter report, 3M lists other ongoing litigation in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Canada and Australia.
Chemours
HQ: Wilmington, USA
2025 net income: $143 million
ChemScore ranking: 40/40
Total damages from PFAS violations: $1.9 billion
Settled PFAS lawsuits: 6
Largest penalty to date: $933 million
Penalty details:
In August 2025, DuPont, Corteva and Chemours, all of which emerged from the old DuPont de Nemours company, together agreed to pay $2.55 billion to remedy long-standing PFAS contamination from four industrial sites in New Jersey. Chemours has agreed to pay $250 million so far — the penalty amount above assumes an equal share of the remainder.
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In recent years, Chemours has become the proverbial dumping ground for all things PFAS and other questionable chemicals as the former DuPont de Nemours company continues to further split its operations into subsidiaries in an attempt to distance itself from chemical liability.
Corteva
HQ: Indianapolis, USA
2025 net income: $1.2 billion
ChemScore ranking: 34/40
Total damages from PFAS violations: $1.4 billion
Settled PFAS lawsuits: 7
Largest penalty amount: $755 million
Penalty details:
Under the terms of the 2025 New Jersey settlement agreement listed above, the three companies will pay $875 million to be allocated primarily between damages for restoration of injured natural resources and abatement funds. Corteva has agreed to pay $72 million so far.
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Corteva recently announced that they will be splitting their seed and crop protection divisions by the end of 2026. Reuters reports that the crop protection division (to be named “New Corteva”) will bear responsibility for environmental liabilities including PFAS claims.
DuPont
HQ: Wilmington, USA
2025 net income: $98 million
ChemScore ranking: 21/40
Total damages from PFAS violations: $1.4 billion
Settled PFAS lawsuits: 6
Largest penalty amount: $860 million
Penalty details:
In addition to the above, Chemours, Corteva and DuPont will also create a remediation fund of up to $1.2 billion, and establish an additional reserve fund of $475 million to ensure that if any one of the companies goes bankrupt or otherwise fails to fulfil their responsibilities to the state, taxpayers won’t be left with the bill. DuPont has agreed to $177 million so far.
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DuPont recently announced their exit from the chemical industry — another signal that they are aware of the liabilities and would prefer to keep all their risky eggs in another basket. Even more recently, DuPont agreed to another $2.6 million settlement with the town of Stuart, Florida USA.
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Tyco Fire Products LP
Parent company: Johnson Controls
HQ: Cork, Ireland
2025 net income: $3.3 billion
ChemScore ranking: None
Total damages from PFAS violations: $767 million
Settled PFAS lawsuits: 2
Largest penalty amount: $750 million
Penalty details:
In November 2024, Tyco Fire Products agreed to pay $750 million to settle litigation brought by public water systems in South Carolina alleging that PFAS chemicals used in firefighting foam produced by Tyco contaminated water supplies.
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Tyco is nearing another settlement agreement with the state of Wisconsin over failing to report toxic PFAS discharges — from 1962 to 2017. It is currently unclear what amount the settlement will result in.
Kidde-Fenwal
Parent company: Carrier Global
HQ: Palm Beach Gardens, USA
2025 net income: $1.5 billion
Total damages from PFAS violations: $730 million
Settled PFAS lawsuits: 1
Largest penalty amount: $730 million
Penalty details:
In October 2024, Kidde-Fenwal reached a settlement agreement of $730 million in connection with its fire-fighting foams contaminating drinking water in Delaware. Parent company Carrier Global has agreed to pay $615 million and fund the remainder through sales of Kidde-Fenwal assets.
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Kidde-Fenwal filed for bankruptcy in May 2023 when litigation costs reached $6 million. The Delaware Attorney General has since objected to this bankruptcy deal, arguing in 2025 that it unlawfully releases parent company Carrier Global from liability — a tactic already declared illegal following the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy.
Solvay*
HQ: Brussels, Belgium
2025 net income: €306 million
ChemScore ranking: 12/40
Total damages from PFAS violations: $394 million
Settled PFAS lawsuits: 2
Largest penalty: $393 million
*In 2023, Solvay split its operations into two independent companies — Solvay and Syensqo.
Penalty details:
In June 2023, New Jersey announced a settlement worth about $393 million with Solvay Specialty Polymers that would ensure the remediation of contamination — including PFAS — and compensate the public for natural resource damages in the vicinity of Solvay’s facility in New Jersey.
Following the 2023 separation of Solvay, the responsibilities for this settlement transferred to the new specialty chemical company, Syensqo.
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Solvay recently indicated a plan to phase out TFA at their site in Bad Wimpfen, Germany. ChemSec remains cautiously optimistic despite Solvay’s history of regrettable substitutions.
BASF
HQ: Ludwigshafen, Germany
2025 net income: $1.6 billion
ChemScore ranking: 8/40
Total penalty amount to date: $317 million
Settled PFAS lawsuits: 1
Largest penalty: $317 million
Details:
In November 2024, BASF agreed to pay $317 million to settle litigation brought by public water systems in South Carolina alleging that PFAS chemicals used in firefighting foam produced by the company contaminated water supplies.
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BASF is the world’s largest chemical producer by revenue. Last year they announced a gradual phase-out of PFAS by 2028, signalling their awareness of the risks and liabilities associated with forever chemicals. They continue to face additional lawsuits over PFAS contamination. That is, after all, the problem with forever chemicals.
