Category: PFAS: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

PFAS presence in textiles can hinder recycling and reuse, posing a barrier to achieving a circular economy.

We, European civil society organisations, urge to ban all PFAS in consumer products by 2025 and to have a complete ban by 2030.

The future of fashion demands a decisive shift towards PFAS-free practices, emphasizing innovation, stringent regulations, and consumer awareness to eradicate the use of these harmful “forever chemicals.”

HEJSupport caught up with Maria Delfina Cuglievan Wiese from the SAICM Secretariat to get more details about managing PFAS as a chemical class in the textile sector.

PFAS are chemicals of high concern and their use should be regulated in the garment and textile industry.

PFAS are often used as impregnating agents in textiles due to their desirable properties, and unfortunately their use has a negative impact on human and environmental health.
These desirable textile properties include:
– breathability
– oil, water, alcohol, and dirt repellency
– high thermal stability
– durability throughout the washing and dry cleaning processes