The debate about fluoroplastics and their environmental impact is reaching new heights. While environmentalists are calling for a ban on PFAS (perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds), industry associations are warning of the far-reaching consequences for numerous areas of application. A look at the arguments and challenges.
Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds (PFAS) are a group of chemicals that are highly resistant due to their special molecular structure, in which fluorine atoms are bound to carbon chains. This property makes PFAS useful in many applications, but also leads to their persistence in the environment and concerns about their potential environmental and health damage.
Environmental concerns versus industrial necessity
Image: Woman preparing food in a pan; Copyright: Krakenimages.com – stock.adobe.com
PFAS can be found in a large number of everyday products, for example in non-stick coatings on pans. Copyright: Krakenimages.com – stock.adobe.com
PFAS are often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they can accumulate in the environment and in living organisms without degrading. Their use in a variety of products, from non-stick coatings to fire-fighting foams and waterproof textiles, has led to their widespread presence in the environment and in human bodies.
As a result of these concerns, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has considered the possibility of a comprehensive ban on PFAS, which could include all 38 fluoroplastics, a subgroup of PFAS. Such a ban would be one of the most far-reaching in the history of chemicals regulation and would have a significant impact on many industries.
Industry associations such as PlasticsEurope, which represent the plastics industry, have expressed concerns about the potential impact of such a ban. “We support the protection of people and the environment and therefore also that everything possible is done to prevent harmful substances from being released into the environment,” says Thorsten Kühmann, Managing Director of the Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association within the VDMA. “The substances used in machines are generally not hazardous to health, but are necessary for their functionality. The current PFAS regulation is a ban regulation that excludes all substances, whereas only truly hazardous substances should be excluded. This approach alone helps people and the economy alike!” Unlike many other PFASs that can accumulate in the environment and in the human body, fluoropolymers are not absorbed or accumulated in the same way due to their size and structure. This distinction is central to the debate on the proposed ban, as fluoropolymers are essential in a wide range of applications, from medical devices to renewable energy components.
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Fluoroplastics – an indispensable component of modern technologies?
Fluoroplastics, known for their exceptional properties such as chemical and temperature resistance, play a central role in many sectors of modern industry. Their chemical resistance makes them ideal for applications in the chemical industry, where they are used as coatings and seals to protect equipment from corrosive substances. At the same time, their ability to withstand extreme temperatures allows them to be used in areas that require reliable performance under difficult thermal conditions, such as the aerospace industry. In addition, they have excellent dielectric properties, making them valuable insulators in electronics and electrical systems. Their smooth surface and low coefficient of friction also make them ideal for applications where minimal friction is required.
Image: Shoulders of a person with water-repellent clothing; Copyright: Ondra – stock.adobe.com
“Without fluoroplastics, there would be no Green Deal,” say the Bavarian chemical associations. Copyright: Ondra – stock.adobe.com
The debate surrounding the planned ban on PFAS, which includes fluoroplastics, is particularly relevant in this context. While environmentalists are calling for a ban due to the environmentally harmful and unhealthy properties of many PFAS, the industry is emphasising the unique advantages of fluoroplastics. “Without fluoroplastics, there would be no Green Deal,” argue the Bavarian chemical associations, for example. At a round table on the Chamber of Industry and Commerce’s PFAS ban proposal, the Bavarian chemical associations argued that the enshrined climate targets would not be achievable without the use of fluoropolymers in sustainable technologies.
A ban could also have far-reaching effects on numerous branches of industry, including those that are of central importance for the implementation of the European Green Deal. In this area of tension between environmental protection and industrial requirements, the search for a balanced approach that takes into account both environmental protection and the needs of industry becomes a key challenge.
