Textile and clothing brands face pressure to innovate as legislation builds against the use of PFASs, or forever chemicals

Textile and clothing brands face pressure to innovate as legislation builds against the use of PFASs, or forever chemicals

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), also known as “forever chemicals”, are a family of synthetic fluorinated compounds which are prized for their unique characteristics. In textiles and clothing, they are most commonly used in the manufacture of durable water repellent (DWR) finishes, treatments and membranes for a broad range of applications, including accessories, automotive interiors, footwear, home textiles, performance apparel, performance equipment and technical textiles. However, PFASs are drawing attention because of the damaging impact they have on the environment and human health. In particular, they persist in the environment and have been shown to be bioaccumulative, highly mobile and toxic. As scientific evidence demonstrating the adverse effects of PFASs on the environment and human health increases, lawmakers worldwide are strengthening existing regulations or proposing new regulations in order to eliminate PFASs. For performance apparel brands, a major challenge lies in understanding the impact of forthcoming regulations. A larger challenge lies in the development of alternative substances which comply with current and forthcoming regulations while offering the same levels of performance as PFASs.