Latest PFAS-free Nano Coatings can substitute so-called 'forever chemicals' in specific use cases across more and more industries. Let's examine the issues surrounding PFAS and explore the latest alternatives that material sciences can offer.
The 5000 (some insiders say even 12000+) group of synthetic Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pose serious and well documented risks, yet transitioning away from these commonly known as "Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP)" or "Forever Chemicals" has proved challenging for a long time.
With novel PFAS-free Nanocoatings, on the other hand, there is a new player on the horizon which shows potential to substitute PFAS-containing coatings in surprisingly many - and more and more - applications. And that's incredible news! Here's why.
What's PFAS Actually
Once hailed a miracle of modern chemistry, "PFAS" is an umbrella term for 5000+ man-made (synthetic, not naturally occurring) chemicals that have been widely produced and extensively used ↗︎ since the 1940s. Here's a breakdown of the key substances under the PFAS term, most of us will likely never heard of, highlighting the breadth of this chemical group:
PFOS (Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid)
PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid)
GenX Chemicals
PFNA (Perfluorononanoic acid)
PFHxS (Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid)
PFAS have a chemistry that makes them resistant to heat, water and oil stains for a long time. As a result, they have been used in nonstick coatings on pans, stain-resistant treatments for furniture and carpets, water-repellent clothing, food packaging, firefighting foams, beauty products and in uncountable products and components in almost every industry.
PFAS are difficult to detect with our senses because they are colourless, odourless and tasteless. Even accurately detecting and quantifying PFAS in the environment, consumer products, or biological samples requires advanced technologies and methods, making it a specialised and often a costly endeavour. But they are all around us, present nearly everywhere. They can even contaminate drinking water sources and may be present in dust.
From dental floss to pizza boxes: Products containing PFAS in our daily lives.
The Problem with PFAS
Classified as 'persistent' by the Stockholm Convention in 2009, PFAS are chemicals that do not easily or readily break down. As a result, they are extremely mobile in the environment and have spread to even remote regions like the Arctic and Antarctic. They are deemed "forever chemicals" because they are stubbornly persistent and can build up in the human body, associating with a range of health effects.
The pressure is mounting on administrations worldwide to outlaw PFAS as a measure to safeguard their citizens. The challenge for businesses presently incorporating PFAS into their offerings lies in identifying suitable alternatives.
Regulators struggle to manage over 5,000 known PFAS compounds contaminating soil, water and organisms worldwide, demonstrating how pervasive these chemicals have become. How real this subject has become read, for example, ↗︎ U.S. Kale Contains Disturbing Amounts of Forever Chemicals from July 2023 published by the nonprofit Alliance for Natural Health (ANH), which found that 7 out of 8 kale samples taken from grocery stores in the U.S. contained concerning levels of PFAS. Or have a read through the Health and Environmental Alliance's ↗︎ How PFAS pollution affects people’s health across Europe to get a better idea of how far we've come with PFAS around us.
Although PFAS are widely used, only a small number of companies are responsible for most of the production.
For a deeper understanding of PFAS and its toxicity, specifically within the context of the United States, we highly recommend Terry Turner's comprehensive piece on PFAS-contaminated products and Mark Howell's exploration on water contamination due to PFAS. Both articles are accessible at ConsumerNotice.org, found ↗︎ here and ↗︎ here, respectively.
The Forever Pollution Map shows the extent of PFAS contamination across Europe. Created by ↗︎ Le Monde newspaper and 17 partners, the map plots over 21,000 known contamination sites identified during their investigation. Dots also mark 20 current PFAS producers and 232 facilities producing PFAS-containing products. The broad distribution illustrates how pervasive ‘forever chemicals’ have become in our environment.
Did You Know
US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has identified PFAS in over 98% of the human blood samples analysed way back in a 1999-2000 survey, highlighting their widespread presence - with little consequence since.
PFAS is present today in nearly every living being across every continent.
The Challenges in Addressing PFAS Pollution
The issue of PFAS pollution and its impacts represents one of the less publicly known or understood environmental and health dangers. Despite growing scientific recognition of the risks associated with PFAS, public awareness and regulatory response have been relatively slow to develop for several reasons:
Complexity and Ubiquity: PFAS encompass a wide range of chemicals—over 4,700—each with different properties and uses. Their widespread application in various consumer products, industrial processes, and firefighting foams has made them ubiquitous, complicating efforts to raise awareness about specific sources of exposure and risks.
Persistence and Detection: The very properties that make PFAS valuable in industrial applications—chemical stability and resistance to degradation—also make them difficult to detect and remove from the environment. Until relatively recently, testing for PFAS in water, soil, and biological samples was not standard practice, and many areas may remain untested.
Emerging Science: Although research into the environmental persistence and health effects of PFAS has been ongoing, the full scope of their impact is still emerging. As new studies elucidate the long-term consequences of exposure, the urgency and public understanding of the issue gradually increase.
Regulatory Challenges: Addressing PFAS pollution requires comprehensive regulatory frameworks that can deal with the complexity of the issue. Regulating such a large group of substances, each with different uses and toxicological profiles, presents significant challenges. Furthermore, creating and implementing regulations takes time, often lagging behind the science.
Economic Considerations: The industries that use PFAS in their products or manufacturing processes represent significant economic interests. The cost of phasing out PFAS, finding alternatives, and cleaning up existing pollution can be substantial. These economic factors can delay action and contribute to public unawareness by limiting the dissemination of information about the risks.
PFAS is everywhere. The question today is: how to revere it? Image curtesy of South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
PFAS Revenue: €26 Billion
Societal Costs of PFAS: €2,000 billion
That's Per Year. The Nordic Council of Ministers estimates that the direct healthcare costs from exposure to PFAS in Europe alone are €52-84 billion annually. Europe, because it has the data, has over 17,000 sites contaminated with PFAS. If we assume that the contamination in global soils is similar, remediation costs would be over €2000 billion. This does not include getting rid of PFAS in our waters yet.
Profits Over Health? The PFAS Dilemma
The production and use of PFAS present a complex issue. A report by a Swedish non-profit organisation, ChemSec, which advocates for chemical safety, has shed light on the current situation. It identified the top 12 PFAS producers worldwide and highlighted the significant costs to society due to PFAS pollution.
In 2020, the global PFAS market was estimated to be around $28 billion, which may sound like much but was only 0.5% of the broader $4.73 trillion chemical industry. The annual profits for PFAS producers are estimated to be around $4 billion, indicating the high financial stakes involved for the few sharing the production market.
However, the handsome profits for some come at a cost for all. The financial and health costs associated with PFAS exposure are substantial. For example, a 2021 report by the Nordic Council of Ministers estimated that the total socio-economic costs of PFAS exposure in the European Economic Area could range from 0.8 billion to 2.8 billion euros - annually.
Similarly, a 2019 study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives estimated the healthcare costs related to exposure to just one type of PFAS (PFOA) could be around 52 billion to 84 billion euros across Europe - over a 70-year period.
This situation highlights an imbalance between the economic benefits for few producers and the societal costs of PFAS. The industry's limited transparency and minimal discussion of PFAS in sustainability efforts further complicate the issue though regulation and legislation may soon be on its way despite considerable resistance.
The staggering facts against PFAS call for the urgent need for industries and consumers to find safer alternatives. PFAS-free nano coatings may well be option for many - right now.
PFAS Market Price: €19 per kg
True Cost: €18,374 per kg
The true cost is 1000 times higher if all societal costs are included - according to Swedish Non-Profit ChemSec.
Why Transitioning Away from PFAS Now?
Beginning to replace PFAS voluntarily today not only addresses the growing environmental and health concerns associated with these chemicals but also aligns with broader trends towards sustainability and corporate responsibility. A proactive approach is wise and can bolster a company's reputation, ensure compliance with evolving regulations, stimulate innovation, and potentially open new market opportunities.
Compliance and Regulatory Advantage
Stay Ahead: Move faster than the regulations to avoid future hurdles. It's not just about compliance — it's about setting a standard.
Keep Markets Open: As more regions start saying no to PFAS, keeping your products clean ensures they remain global contenders.
Brand Image and Competitive Edge
Win Trust: Be the brand that stood up when it mattered. Your commitment to ditching PFAS now will earn lasting customer loyalty.
Stand Out: Differentiate your products by offering what others can't—peace of mind that they're free from PFAS.
Health and Safety
Protect Everyone: Moving away from PFAS keeps your team, customers and environment safe from unknown health risks.
Build Loyalty: Show that health isn't just a policy, it's your priority. This commitment can turn customers into advocates.
Innovation and Future-Proofing
Lead with Innovation: Pursuing PFAS alternatives opens doors to new technologies and materials that could redefine your industry.
Ready for Tomorrow: By adapting now, you're ensuring your business remains relevant and resilient in the face of future challenges.
Financial Implications
Reduce Costs: Avoid the financial pitfalls of late regulation adherence, like fines or forced product recalls.
Attract Investors: Showcase your commitment to sustainability—this approach speaks volumes to investors seeking responsible long-term bets.
The Potential of PFAS-Free Nano Coatings
The field of material science has reached an exciting turning point with a recent innovation that hasn't yet caught widespread attention. This innovation involves the development of nano coatings that are completely free from PFAS (also sometimes referred to as 'F-Zero' or Zero-F, free of fluorinated compounds, Fluoro Free, etc.), bringing forth remarkable performance capabilities. This significant progress is particularly relevant for a wide array of industries seeking to eliminate PFAS from their product offerings.
What sets these PFAS-free nano coatings apart is their ability to meet the demand for water and oil repellency in products — a demand that was previously met exclusively through the use of any of the thousands of fluorine compounds that are umbrellaed under the term "Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances" - better known as PFAS. The introduction of PFAS-free coatings represents a pivotal shift, enabling industries to explore new product formulations that maintain desired performance characteristics while also being safer for the environment and public health.
Limitations of PFAS-Free Nano Coatings
PFAS-free nanocoatings, while offering significant and constantly improving hydrophobic and oleophobic properties alongside great durability, do not match the near indestructible "forever" durability and water and oil repellency characteristics of most PFAS-containing coatings.
However, for many applications, such as pizza boxes or industrial filters, the need for these extreme properties is not just excessive but unnecessary. In these scenarios, the benefits of choosing an environmentally friendlier option—despite potential trade-offs in longevity and repellency—are not merely acceptable; they're actively preferred due to the environmental, regulatory, and market advantages they offer.
Industries Benefiting from PFAS-Free Nanocoatings
Through innovative formulation, elaborate testing, and close collaboration between the scientific and producer community and the industry, novel nanocoatings can be a great substitute rather rapidly - especially in scenarios where 'forever' durability is not the most crucial factor.
Architectural Coatings
Automotive Manufacturing
Food Packaging
Home Furnishings
Industrial and Environmental Filtration
Textiles & Apparel
And many more!
Adopting PFAS-Free Nanocoatings
As industries that have traditionally relied on PFAS-based coatings seek sustainable alternatives, the shift towards PFAS-free nanocoatings presents several critical considerations:
R&D investment: Determining the necessity for research and development to adapt PFAS-free nanocoatings for specific product functionalities and manufacturing processes.
Performance parity: Assessing whether these sustainable alternatives can achieve or surpass the performance and durability standards of PFAS-based coatings, ensuring no compromise on product quality.
Manufacturing adjustments: Identifying required updates or modifications in manufacturing processes or equipment to accommodate the use of new materials without disrupting production efficiency.
Regulatory compliance: Ensuring that the transition to PFAS-free coatings meets all relevant environmental standards and regulations, helping to reduce corporate environmental liability.
Cost implications: Understanding the financial aspects, including the initial investment in new coatings and potential long-term cost benefits or increases related to production and regulatory compliance.
Supplier collaboration: Working closely with suppliers to secure consistent, high-quality sources of PFAS-free materials that meet manufacturing and product requirements.
Customer acceptance: Anticipating and addressing customer perceptions and responses to products manufactured with PFAS-free coatings, particularly regarding their efficacy and sustainability credentials.
The Takeaway
PFAS is generally bad news once it is made. It will get tougher for all involved.
Moving away from PFAS now makes fiscal and image sense and readies companies for looming legislation.
Novel PFAS-free nanocoatings can be an effective alternatives worth looking into.
Many industries can adopt eco-friendly PFAS-free nanocoatings readily. The technology and expertise exists.
Embracing PFAS-free nanocoatings today requires some effort and investment but promises widespread benefits.
How can Lotus Nano Assist?
Contact us to discuss PFAS replacement opportunities with PFAS-free Nanocoatings in your Industry.
