Facing Litigation And Years-Long Push For Increased Regulation, Conglomerate Ends Production Of PFAS Chemicals

By Patrick Gleason | Forbes | December 28, 2022

Read the full article by Patrick Gleason (Forbes)

"The Environmental Protection Agency describes PFAS, the acronym referring to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl chemicals, as “a group of manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s because of their useful properties.” As recently as a couple of years ago, few people had heard of PFAS. But that has changed following increased attention from the media, lawmakers, regulators, and the courts.

After years of escalating legislative, regulatory, and judicial attempts to restrict or prohibit the use of PFAS chemicals — which critics contend has occurred amid a lack of clarity and good faith discussions about these substances and the threats they pose to humans and the environment — a major company recently announced that it will voluntarily stop production of PFAS chemicals. 3M, the Minnesota-based industrial conglomerate, announced on December 20 that it will cease all PFAS production by 2025.

"While PFAS can be safely made and used, we also see an opportunity to lead in a rapidly evolving external regulatory and business landscape to make the greatest impact for those we serve,” 3M CEO Mike Roman said in a statement. There will be costs associated with the decision."