PFAS Bans Are Coming for Clothing. Here’s What You Need to Know

By Katie Okamoto | Wirecutter | January 13, 2025

Read the full article by Katie Okamoto (Wirecutter)

"I remember buying my first rain shell when I was still in college. I sought out the Gore-Tex label specifically, because based on its reputation I knew that the breathable waterproof coating would keep me bone-dry as I sloshed across the sleet-drenched New England campus to class and on sodden trips to the coast for my research. When I eventually moved to New York City, that jacket cocooned me through soaked commutes and drizzly upstate hikes. I felt protected but not claustrophobic.

That protection, it turns out, was due to a class of toxic chemicals, known as PFAS and PFCs, that as of January 2025 are now banned from apparel for sale in California and New York. The outdoor-apparel industry has already been moving away from PFAS-based waterproofing; Gore-Tex for one, released a new PFAS-free membrane in 2022.

This might seem like a good time to ditch your old rain jacket. But not so fast—your best bet may actually be to hold on to it for as long as it’s useful."

Topics:

• ChemicalsPFAS
• ProductsClothing
• Affected community
• Health
• Measurement Techniques
• Monitoring Data
• PFAS Uses