FAQ on PFAS
What is PFAS?
PFAS is a collective term for a group of more than 10,000 chemical substances that contain carbon-fluorine bonds. PFAS are also referred to as fluorinated substances, perfluorinated substances, polyfluorinated substances, PFC, fluorocarbon, etc.
Why is PFAS used?
PFAS have a wide range of properties, for example UV resistance, heat tolerance, chemical resistance, water and dirt repellency, electrical insulation, flame retardancy, low friction, and non-stick. PFAS are used across a wide range of industries, but commonly highlighted applications include textiles, sealants, foam insulation, paint, gaskets, electronics, and non-stick kitchen equipment.
Why is PFAS a problem?
PFAS are problematic because the substances are highly persistent or can break down into highly persistent substances. When substances are highly persistent, they can accumulate in such large quantities that they can be harmful to the environment and humans. About the most studied PFAS, it is known that they can affect the liver, the immune system, fertility, the unborn child, and birth weight. In addition, some PFAS are also suspected of being endocrine disruptors and carcinogenic. The widespread use has resulted in some PFAS now being identified in many places in the environment, including groundwater and rainwater.
Is contact with PFAS-containing products dangerous?
Contact with a product containing PFAS during the use phase is in most cases not problematic for individual health. The greatest environmental impact from PFAS occurs during the production of products and in waste handling. In industrial equipment, there is typically very limited release of PFAS during the use phase unless heated significantly. Similarly, PFAS in a waterproof membrane in a jacket is isolated between an inner and outer layer and will only be released when the jacket is destroyed.
How is PFAS regulated?
The EU has already banned several PFAS, and new legislation restricting the use of the entire group of PFAS is expected to enter into force in 2027. This means that virtually all industries and their supply chains will be affected. An 18-month transition period is expected during which goods in stock may be used, and in addition, derogations (exemptions) are expected for continued use of PFAS in certain applications while alternatives are being developed, or where no alternatives exist. Denmark has already banned PFAS in paper and cardboard in direct contact with food (2020), in firefighting foam for training exercises (2024), and in clothing, footwear, and certain impregnation products (2026).
What alternatives to PFAS exist?
There is no 1:1 replacement for PFAS, and there will not be one. But there are many alternatives to PFAS on the market, and there is good progress in the development of alternatives in product areas where they do not exist. The landscape of alternatives is just as complex as the group of PFAS. Therefore, possible alternatives will always depend on the properties required for the specific application of PFAS.
What does PFAS-free mean?
Products marketed as “PFAS-free”, “fluorine-free”, or “PFC-free” are not necessarily completely without PFAS. This is because a distinction is made between intentionally added PFAS, which is intended to give the product or production a specific function, and unintentional presence of PFAS, which may originate from contamination in raw materials or production equipment that is also used for PFAS-containing products.
Prepared by inVirke and Danish Technological Institute (March 2026)