July 24, 2024

An Industry Perspective On 'Forever Chemicals'

Natalia Scherbakoff, Vice President, Technology & Innovation at Trinseo

This article was originally published on Forbes.com on July 23, 2024.

With the growing awareness of environmental protection and concerns for human health, the global market is rapidly shifting toward products that do not contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as "forever chemicals." PFAS are used to "keep food from sticking to packaging or cookware, make clothes and carpets resistant to stains, and create firefighting foam that is more effective."

In late February, for example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that "grease-proofing materials containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are no longer being sold for use in food packaging in the U.S."

"This means," the announcement explains, "the major source of dietary exposure to PFAS from food packaging like fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, take-out paperboard containers and pet food bags is being eliminated."

According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, there are nearly 15,000 synthetic chemicals classified as PFAS. Many of them were commercialized and have been used for decades.

Being a dedicated member working in the chemical industry, I want to share some of the important background information to understand the details of these shifts and where the industry is heading now.

Background Information About PFAS

The key attributes of PFAS include protection against heat, cold, fire, smoke, aggressive fluids and fuels, humidity, corrosion, vibrations and compression. Therefore, PFAS are very common substances used in many applications, such as firefighting foam, cars, textiles, climbing ropes and consumer electronic devices for improving the durability, functionality and also safety of everyday products.

PFAS have garnered significant attention in recent years due to their long-term persistence in the environment and potential hazards to human health. Like the FDA, international regulatory bodies are tightening restrictions on these chemicals, driving the industry to seek alternative solutions.

The EU has always been a pioneer in chemical management, especially in regulating chemicals with high environmental persistence. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) proposed restrictions on PFAS in 2023 with regulations enforced under the EU REACH Regulation. It is anticipated that there will be stricter and more comprehensive regulations on PFAS globally in 2024 and 2025. The transition time may not be sufficient.

It is, however, noteworthy that not all PFAS pose a potential hazard to human health. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development defined PFAS and identified a group of commercialized polymers as “polymers of low concern (PLCs)."

The definition has been widely used, though not yet in the EU system. According to the American Chemistry Council, "The vast majority and types of fluoropolymers, which are part of the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) family, meet internationally recognized criteria for being considered polymers of low concern (PLC), a designation for compounds that are expected to have insignificant environmental and human health impacts."

Good 'Forever Chemicals'

PFAS have been used for good reasons, and it takes time to innovate and test alternatives (especially for the medical and aerospace sectors, for instance). As of now, we are not sure if PFAS substitutes are going to perform in the same way but with lower health risks.

The outlook for PFAS-free flame-retardant plastic materials, on the other hand, is much better. As people's awareness of environmental protection and health increases, the demand for environmentally friendly materials that replace PFAS is also growing. Chemical companies have started investing in R&D for innovating PFAS-free materials.

Currently, support for the environmental protection industry in most countries is continuously increasing, and it holds a positive attitude toward environmentally friendly materials and technologies that replace PFAS. In light of this, PFAS-free flame-retardant plastic materials are expected to be widely used in construction, electronics, automotive, aerospace and other fields.

Furthermore, as market competition intensifies, the production technology of PFAS-free flame-retardant polycarbonate materials is improving while costs are decreasing. It is fair to say that globally PFAS-free flame-retardant plastic materials have good prospects and development potential.

Recent Developments In The Chemical Industry

To prepare for stricter and more comprehensive regulations on PFAS globally, the industry has invested in resources on the R&D of PFAS-free plastic materials. Some examples include:

• In the Middle East, a company has launched PFAS-free plastic additives that have performed exceptionally well in the North American market, meeting the requirements of the U.S. FDA and the European Food Safety Authority, demonstrating excellent transparency and processability.
• Another chemical group has introduced a polycarbonate material that is not only PFAS-free but also exhibits outstanding flame retardancy and transparency, offering the potential for lightweight and space-saving solutions in information and electronic devices.
• In Europe, a company has introduced a PFAS/polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-free architectural powder coating texturizer that enhances environmental standards and reduces the energy consumption of architectural coatings.
• In the U.S., a company has launched a series of halogen-free flame retardants without PTFE, specifically designed for PCs and used in electrical and electronic products.

Conclusion

In April, I conducted a technical webinar where brand owners and other stakeholders in the chemical industry had meaningful exchanges on this topic. We discussed what PFAS are, their general applications and how the ECHA proposal could impact consumer electronics and electrical applications.

In thinking about future challenges and possible solutions, the most important question to consider is: Why did we need PFAS in the first place?

Given the challenges the chemical industry faces, we have been working hard for some time now on how to do without PFAS. At the same time, manufacturers must be able to produce products that come with the required properties, if not better, so all end users will continue to enjoy the quality of life they used to have.

This is never an easy task, but the entire industry is on it, and we will make it happen.

Get more insights from Scherbakoff’s thought leadership by reading her posts published on Forbes.com.