Boulder, CO
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Times are changing, certainly for the better, as governments and industry leaders take note of the harmful and “forever chemicals” found in many of our everyday uses… specifically much of the waterproof apparel available to adventurers.
A new bill signed into California law, which in a nutshell, bans all products with added-PFA’s, including apparel. Some categories of the ban take immediate effect, and some longer, but most PFA-containing products will be banned by 2025. The only exception is for “Extreme wet weather apparel” which must be labeled by 2025, with the total ban coming in 2028... w/ more states and retailers following.
Times are changing, certainly for the better, as governments and industry leaders take note of the harmful and “forever chemicals” found in many of our everyday uses… specifically much of the waterproof apparel available to adventurers.
So, what are these “forever chemicals” more formally known as PFAS… polyfluoroalkyl substances are a class of man-made chemicals used in a wide range of industrial applications due to their unique properties, including resistance to heat, water, and oil. They do not naturally break down in the environment and can persist for decades, even centuries. The widespread use of PFAS has resulted in their presence in the air, water, and soil, as well as in human blood and tissue.
While PFAS have been used for decades, research has linked these chemicals to a variety of health concerns, including cancer, reproductive problems, and immune system disorders. As a result, many countries and jurisdictions have taken action to limit or ban the use of PFAS in consumer products and industrial applications.
One example of this is the United States, where the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken steps to regulate PFAS under the Safe Drinking Water Act and other environmental laws. In 2021, the EPA announced a series of actions aimed at addressing PFAS contamination, including the development of new regulations and the establishment of a national PFAS occurrence database.
In addition to government action, many companies are also taking steps to transition away from PFAS and other forever chemicals. For example, in 2020, outdoor clothing company Patagonia announced that it had eliminated the use of PFAS in all of its products. Other companies, including IKEA and H&M, have also committed to phasing out the use of PFAS in their products.
The transition away from PFAS and other forever chemicals is not without challenges. These chemicals have been used in so many products that they are ubiquitous in the environment, making it difficult to fully eliminate their presence. Additionally, alternatives to PFAS may not have the same properties that make them so useful in industrial applications, which means that new solutions will need to be developed.
Despite these challenges, the transition away from PFAS and other forever chemicals is a critical step in protecting human health and the environment. By reducing our reliance on these chemicals and finding safer alternatives, we can help to ensure a healthier future for ourselves and for generations to come.
There are numerous states and retailers are outlawing PFAS because they pose significant risks to human health and the environment. Introducing legislation to ban or restrict the use of PFAS in consumer products and industrial processes, with the addition of several retailers, including Target, Walmart, and Home Depot, have committed to phasing out the sale of products containing PFAS are the first incremental steps being taken.
Overall, the outlawing of PFAS and forever chemicals reflects a growing recognition of the risks they pose to public health and the environment and the need for stronger regulations to protect us from these harmful substances.
Outdoor brands that have moved away from PFAS (all or select products)
