Scientists Find A Market Ready Replacement For PFAS

By Alison Escalante | Forbes | May 29, 2025

Read the full article by Alison Escalante (Forbes)

"It’s one of those quiet realities of modern life: we unwrap our sandwich or sip from a paper cup, unaware that the packaging protecting our food might be leaching harmful chemicals. For decades, food packaging has relied on PFAS — a family of so-called 'forever chemicals’ — to keep oil and water from soaking through paper products. But as we now know, PFAS don’t stay neatly in the packaging. They linger in our environment, our water, and even our bloodstreams, with growing links to serious health risks.

On Tuesday, scientists at Northwestern University announced what they hope will be a safe replacement for forever chemicals. They’ve developed a new material derived from graphene oxide, which they believe may offer the first truly safe, sustainable, and effective alternative to PFAS in food packaging.

Why PFAS Are Everywhere

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are synthetic chemicals used to repel oil and water. First used in the 1930s and 40s with the invention of teflon, they are now everywhere: in fast food wrappers, takeout boxes, candy wrappers, sandwhich bags and even compostable-looking plates. Quite simply, PFAS are highly effective and to date industry has not been able to find a substitute."