Joint statement on PFAS
other
We recognize that a restriction on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) is necessary due to their adverse environmental and health effects, and we therefore support and welcome the regulatory development. However, we would like to highlight the challenges associated with a restriction, particularly in the context of the green transition and the role PFAS play in a wide range of crucial industries. As Research and Technology Organizations (RTOs), we are in a unique position to accompany the legislative process: by assessing the environmental risks of exposure, researching material substitutes and developing sustainable solutions. While we do advocate for PFAS restrictions, we emphasize the need for a nuanced risk assessment that also takes into consideration that in some industrial production processes suitable substitutes do not yet exist. We recommend strategic investments into substitutes, closed-loop methodologies and a systematic assessment of the feasibility of interventions. We support a balanced approach that integrates the responsibility of the industry, regulatory support and the urgent need for independent research to obtain sustainable alternatives, thus ensuring both, the twin transition and the considerate phase-out of PFAS to protect society in the short and the long term.
TNO Identifier
995539
Publisher
Fraunhofer Gesellschaft
Collation
7 p.
Place of publication
München, Germany